After ousting President Mohammed Bazoum, Common Abdourahamane Tiani, the commander of Niger’s presidential guard, declared himself as the pinnacle of state on July 28.
Tiani appeared on Télé Sahel, the state tv with a banner that referred to him as “President of the Nationwide Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.” An announcement stated the structure has been suspended and all authorities establishments has been dissolved.
That is the seventh army takeover in West and Central Africa in lower than three years. Western powers have raised issues over the coup and Bazoum’s ouster as Niger has been their key ally within the area to counter insurgencies by teams affiliated to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. Here is a take a look at Tiani’s previous accomplishments as he takes over the African nation’s reins.
Who’s Common Abdourahamane Tiani?
Hailing from Filingue, Tillaberi, which borders Mali, the 62-year-old basic was a former army attache at Niger’s embassy in Germany. He has led the elite presidential guard unit since 2011.
Tiani was embellished for securing the crash web site of a French UTA flight close to Bilma in northern Niger in 1989. All 170 folks on board have been killed, following a suitcase bomb explosion. Tiani was the primary officer on web site, in accordance with Reuters.
Heading a battalion in Agadez, he additionally led army operations within the Niger desert towards contraband and drug traffickers.
Worsening safety led to the coup: Tiani
In an announcement on Télé Sahel on Friday, Tiani requested “the technical and monetary companions and associates of Niger to grasp the particular scenario of our nation and supply all needed help to assist it overcome the challenges it faces”. Tiania stated the coup was needed due to the worsening safety within the nation, including that “we can not proceed with the identical approaches proposed up to now, because it dangers witnessing the gradual and inevitable disappearance of our nation”.
US says there may be room for diplomacy
White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby stated there was nonetheless room for diplomacy and warned that the US shall be pressured to stop safety and different cooperation with Niger.
French Overseas Minister Catherina Colonna referred to it as an “tried coup” on Friday, saying the army takeover is “not remaining”.
– with company inputs
