Niger swear in coup leader as president for five years
Dem don swear in Niger military ruler as di kontri president for a transitional period of five years.
Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani don dey lead di kontri since 2023, afta e remove Niger elected President, Mohamed Bazoum through coup.
On Wednesday, 26 March, Gen Tchiani take di presidential office under one new charter wey replace di West African kontri constitution.
Dem also promote am to di kontri highest military rank of army general, and e sign one decree wey order dissolvement of all political parties.
During one ceremony for di capital, Niamey, Gen Tchiani tok of im new military rank: "I receive dis distinction wit great humility... I go try to live up to di trust kontri pipo place in me."
Di transition to democratic rule dey in line wit recommendations from one commission afta one national discussion.
Dis five-year time period dey "flexible" and e depend on di kontri security status, di new charter tok.
Jihadist attacks bin worry Niger for many years – wey be one of di issues junta leaders bin cite wen dem stage di coup.
Di military takeover bin follow odas for di region – na juntas too dey lead neighbouring Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
All di four kontris don cut ties wit former colonial power France and dem don forge new alliances wit Russia.
And all except Guinea, don pull out of Ecowas, di West African regional bloc.
Niger relations wit Ecowas bin scata wen di junta propose one three-year transition period to democratic rule straight afta di coup.
Ecowas bin call di plan "provocation" and dem bin threaten to intervene wit di use of force, bifor dem later back down.
Gen Tchiani administration dey prosecute former President Bazoum on top accuse say e commit high treason and e undermine national security.
Di junta still hold Bazoum for di presidential palace wit im wife, while dem grant im son one provisional release last January.
According to state-run news agency ANP, Gen Tchiani tok say Niger new charter dey in line wit traditional constitutions but e also take "unprecedented measures to protect our natural resources so dat Nigeriens go truly benefit from di exploitation of dia wealth".
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