UPDATED: Niger’s strongman, Gen Tchiani, appoints transitional Prime Minister
The military regime in Republic of Niger is not entirely opposed to talks, as it appointed an economist, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, as the transitional Prime Minister recently.
Precisely on Monday August 7, 2023 the Military Head of State, General Abdourahmane Tchiani’s government made this known according to a decree read on national television, more than a week after the military coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum.
According to Anadolu Agency, the government addressed itself as the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country in the decree read by Genenral Abdourahmane Tchiani, who until the coup was Commander of Niger’s Presidential Guard but has now become the head of a transitional government.
Zeine, 58, served as finance minister under Mamadou Tandja, who was President of Niger from 1999 to 2010, when his government was overthrown by military in a coup which celebration the recently ousted President Mohammadou Bazoum was captured in a viral video to lead.
Ali Zeine currently serves as the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for Chad and previously served at the same institution and position in Ivory Coast and Gabon.
According to the decree, Zeine is expected to lead consultations for the formation of a new government.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is to hold another emergency summit on Thursday in Nigeria to address the political crisis in Niger after the military leaders ignored its ultimatum to cede power.
On Monday, the US State Department said it made direct contact with the coup leaders and had stressed the need to reinstate Bazoum and for Niger to revert to its “constitutional order.”
Bazoum was detained by members of the Presidential Guard on July 26, who later that evening announced the government takeover.
The DEFENDER reports that General Tchiani’s appointment of civilian in to the military regime as prime minister is a tactical diplomacy that will go along way in helping the regime reach wider to world communities without hitches.
