In Niamey, Niger, the leader of the junta, Abdourahamane Tchiani, assumed the presidency on Wednesday for a five-year transitional term, as stated in a newly adopted charter that supersedes the nation’s constitution. This development has effectively challenged the efforts of a regional bloc aimed at hastening the restoration of democratic governance following a coup that occurred in 2023.
The transition period, deemed “flexible,” commenced on Wednesday, according to Mahamane Roufai, serving as the secretary general of the government. This announcement was made during a ceremony in the capital city, where the proposed transition charter—recommended by a recent national conference—was officially endorsed.
Tchiani, with a background in the military, was also promoted to the rank of army general, reinforcing his leadership since June 2023, when he led the overthrow of the democratically elected government.
By the conclusion of this transition period in 2030, Tchiani would have maintained power for approximately seven years, reflecting a pattern observed in other African nations under junta rule, such as Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.
Initially, Niger’s junta suggested a three-year transition period after the coup; however, this was dismissed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc that deemed it provocative and threatened military intervention.
In response, Niger, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, withdrew from the bloc as a form of protest against severe sanctions imposed to encourage a return to democracy.
Opponents argue that the junta has curtailed civil liberties and struggled to curb the jihadist violence, which they claim was the impetus for their assumption of power.