Niger coup: Presidential guard, Tiani declared head of state

Following a military coup that overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum, a general, Abdourahamane Tiani, has been declared as Niger’s new head of state.

The Informant247 gathered that Tiani, who was the head of the presidential guard that held Bazoum hostage in the presidential palace on Wednesday, on account of “bad governance and worsening security”, appeared on state television on Friday, with a banner on the screen describing him as the president of the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP), a newly formed military council.

Tiani said the intervention had been necessary to avoid “the gradual and inevitable demise” of the country, and that while Bazoum had sought to convince people that “all is going well… the harsh reality (is) a pile of dead, displaced, humiliation and frustration”.

“The security approach today has not brought security to the country despite heavy sacrifices,” he added.

There was no mention of a timeline for return to civilian leadership.