Latest news with #Tchiani
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Red Cross halts operations in Niger after government directive
NIAMEY, June 6 (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has suspended its operations in Niger after the West African nation's government ordered the closure of its offices, citing alleged collusion with armed groups. Niger junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani said in an interview with state television in late May that the organisation had been expelled in February, accusing it of meeting and collaborating with Islamist insurgent leaders. The ICRC denied the allegations. "To fulfil its humanitarian mandate to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, the ICRC engages in a spoken or written dialogue with all parties to a conflict," it said in a statement on Thursday. The organisation said it "never provides those parties with financial, logistical or other support." The ICRC, which has worked in Niger for 35 years, said it regretted the government's decision. It said it had immediately removed all foreign personnel from Niger earlier this year after authorities ordered it to do so, while remaining available for dialogue to understand what drove the decision and provide clarification. It added that attempts to discuss the situation were unsuccessful. "Our priority in Niger has been to help the most vulnerable people affected by ongoing armed conflicts and to do so with transparency, independence, neutrality and impartiality," ICRC Regional Director Patrick Youssef said in the statement. Around 4.5 million people, or 17% of Niger's population, required aid in 2024 due to a humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, epidemics, and natural disasters, according to the United Nations. Niger's junta staged a coup in 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Following the coup, Niger's authorities, like military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso, expelled French and other Western forces and sought support from Russia as they battle militant groups.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
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".
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Niger coup leader sworn in as president for five years
Niger's military ruler has been sworn in as the country's president for a transitional period of five years. Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani has led the country since 2023, after he deposed Niger's elected President, Mohamed Bazoum. On Wednesday, Gen Tchiani took the presidential office under a new charter that replaces the West African country's constitution. He was also promoted to the country's highest military rank of army general, and signed a decree ordering that all political parties be dissolved. During a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, Gen Tchiani said of his new military rank: "I receive this distinction with great humility... I will strive to live up to the trust placed in me." The transition to democratic rule is in line with recommendations that a commission made following national discussions. This five-year time period is "flexible" depending on the country's security status, the new charter says. Niger has been plagued by jihadist attacks for many years - one of the issues junta leaders cited when staging their coup. The military takeover followed a string of others in the region - neighbouring Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are also run by juntas. All four countries have severed ties with former colonial power France and forged new alliances with Russia. And all except Guinea, have pulled out of Ecowas, the West African regional bloc. Niger's relations with Ecowas broke down when the junta proposed a three-year transition period to democratic rule straight after the coup. Ecowas called this plan a "provocation" and threatened to intervene with the use of force, before later backing down. Gen Tchiani's administration is prosecuting former President Bazoum on allegations of committing high treason and undermining national security. Bazoum is still being held in the presidential palace with his wife, while his son was granted a provisional release last January. According to state-run news agency ANP, Gen Tchiani said that Niger's new charter was in line with traditional constitutions but also takes "unprecedented measures to protect our natural resources so that Nigeriens truly benefit from the exploitation of their wealth". Three military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change? Why Niger is saying goodbye to France but not the US How has Niger changed since the coup? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Niger coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani sworn in as president for five years
Niger's military ruler has been sworn in as the country's president for a transitional period of five Abdourahamane Tchiani has led the country since 2023, after he deposed Niger's elected President, Mohamed Wednesday, Gen Tchiani took the presidential office under a new charter that replaces the West African country's constitution. He was also promoted to the country's highest military rank of army general, and signed a decree ordering that all political parties be dissolved. During a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, Gen Tchiani said of his new military rank: "I receive this distinction with great humility... I will strive to live up to the trust placed in me."The transition to democratic rule is in line with recommendations that a commission made following national five-year time period is "flexible" depending on the country's security status, the new charter says. Niger has been plagued by jihadist attacks for many years - one of the issues junta leaders cited when staging their military takeover followed a string of others in the region - neighbouring Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are also run by four countries have severed ties with former colonial power France and forged new alliances with Russia. And all except Guinea, have pulled out of Ecowas, the West African regional relations with Ecowas broke down when the junta proposed a three-year transition period to democratic rule straight after the called this plan a "provocation" and threatened to intervene with the use of force, before later backing down. Gen Tchiani's administration is prosecuting former President Bazoum on allegations of committing high treason and undermining national is still being held in the presidential palace with his wife, while his son was granted a provisional release last to state-run news agency ANP, Gen Tchiani said that Niger's new charter was in line with traditional constitutions but also takes "unprecedented measures to protect our natural resources so that Nigeriens truly benefit from the exploitation of their wealth". Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Los Angeles Times
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Niger's junta leader cements his grip on power as he is sworn in as president
NIAMEY, Niger — Niger's junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, was sworn in Wednesday as the country's president for a transition period of five years under a new charter that replaces the West African nation's constitution. Tchiani, an army veteran, was also elevated to the country's highest military rank of army general and signed a decree dissolving all political parties, cementing his grip on power since June 2023 when he led soldiers in a coup that deposed the country's elected government. The move defied attempts by the regional bloc to quicken the return to democracy after a 2023 coup. The five-year 'flexible' transition period begins on Wednesday, according to Mahamane Roufai, the secretary general of the government. He was speaking at a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, where the new transition charter recommended by a recent national conference was approved. The new president would have been in power for about seven years by the end of the transition period in 2030, following similar patterns of prolonged stints in power in Africa's junta-led countries, including Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. The transition charter also sets out a referendum as one of the conditions for setting up foreign military bases in Niger. However, it noted that the president may authorize it through a decree in the event of an emergency. Niger currently has a military partnership with Russia, its new ally after kicking out U.S. and French soldiers — both longstanding partners. Niger's junta had initially proposed a three-year transition period right after the coup, but that was rejected by West Africa's regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which called it a provocation and threatened to intervene with the use of force. Since then Niger has left the bloc alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, in protest of harsh sanctions which the bloc announced to force a return to democracy in Niger. Critics say Niger's junta has clamped down on civil rights and struggled to end the jihadi violence that the military said inspired them to take power. Ulf Laessing, the Sahel program director at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation think tank, said the five-year transition would be advantageous to Russia, which was among the first to recognize and work with the new Niger government. 'The prolonged transition would strengthen the Sahel alliance with Mali and Burkina Faso and would ultimately help Russia to expand in the region,' he said. Mamane writes for the Associated Press.
