Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of Niger’s ruling junta, has been officially sworn in as the country’s president for a transition period of five years under a newly adopted charter that replaces the West African nation’s constitution.
Tchiani, a seasoned military officer, was also elevated to the rank of army general and signed a decree dissolving all political parties, further tightening his grip on power. This marks a significant move since he led a coup in June 2023 that overthrew Niger’s democratically elected government.
The five-year transition period, which took effect on Wednesday, follows recommendations from a recent national conference. Speaking at a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, government secretary-general Mahamane Roufai described the transition timeline as “flexible.”
By the end of the transition in 2030, Tchiani would have ruled for approximately seven years, mirroring extended military-led governments in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso. The transition charter also introduced a new regulation requiring a referendum before any foreign military bases are established in Niger. However, in emergency situations, the president may authorize them through a decree.
Since coming to power, Niger’s junta has shifted alliances, forming a military partnership with Russia after expelling U.S. and French troops, who had long been security partners in the fight against jihadist insurgencies.
Initially, the junta proposed a three-year transition, a timeline rejected by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which threatened military intervention. In response to sanctions and mounting pressure, Niger withdrew from the regional bloc, joining Mali and Burkina Faso in severing ties with ECOWAS.
Critics argue that despite consolidating power, Tchiani’s government has cracked down on civil liberties and struggled to curb the Islamist insurgency, which was a key justification for the coup.
