In a dramatic twist of events, Niger’s state television declared General Abdourahamane Tiani, the chief of the Presidential Guard, as the new leader following a military coup. Elected President Mohamed Bazoum, under the custody of military rebels since Wednesday, found his power usurped by Tiani, now dubbed “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.”

Defending the sudden military takeover, General Abdourahamane Tiani appeared on television, stating that the move was prompted by escalating security concerns and the lack of effective collaboration with Mali and Burkina Faso’s military governments against insurgencies. The soldiers of Niger, he claimed, acted in the best interest of national security.

Tiani also brought into light the daily toll of insecurity experienced by Niger’s defense forces and citizens, which included deaths, displacement, and humiliation. He questioned the efficacy of an anti-terrorism strategy that excludes genuine collaboration with Burkina Faso and Mali.

The coup saw President Mohamed Bazoum detained in the presidential palace, with a subsequent announcement on state television confirming his dethroning. Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of mercenary group Wagner, commended the coup as ‘good news’, extending his fighters’ services to restore order.

Despite not claiming direct involvement in the coup, Yevgeny Prigozhin painted it as a liberation from Western colonizers via a message on Telegram app channels associated with Wagner.

The coup, however, drew severe criticism. Former colonial power, France, and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS condemned the coup and demanded President Mohamed Bazoum’s immediate release. French President Emmanuel Macron signaled support for sanctions against the coup’s orchestrators.

Similarly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov advocated for restoring constitutional order. The United States, echoing similar sentiments, emphasized its cooperation with Niger’s government contingent upon its commitment to democratic standards. The US-UN mission suggested UN Security Council action to diffuse the escalating situation in Niger.

  Burkina Faso, ECOWAS, Emmanuel Macron, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mali, Mohamed Bazoum, Niger, Sergei Lavrov, Yevgeny Prigozhin