According to official television, General Abdourahamane Tchiani is the new leader of Niger following a military takeover.
The general who led a coup in Niger took to state television Friday to seek support for the coup, two days after members of the military detained the democratically elected president, causing political chaos that could stall the country’s fight against militants and increase Russia’s influence in West Africa.
Niger state media recognized Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as the commander of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, the group of soldiers who claimed to have conducted the coup.
Tchiani, also known as Omar, stated that the country needed to shift course to avoid “the gradual and irreversible decline.”
Tchiani, also known as Omar, stated that the country needed to shift course in order to avert “the gradual and inevitable demise,” and that he and others had decided to interfere.
“I ask the technical and financial partners who are friends of Niger to understand the specific situation of our country in order to provide it with all the support necessary to enable it to meet the challenges,” he said.
According to an expert and a Western military official, multiple groups of Niger’s military fought for control previously. Tchiani’s visit appeared to be an attempt to demonstrate his authority, despite the fact that the situation was still fluid.
A group from neighboring Nigeria seeking to mediate left shortly after arriving, and the president of Benin, who had been selected by a regional body as a mediator, had not come.
According to an expert who spoke with participants in the talks, the presidential guard, which led the coup, was negotiating who should be in command with the army. Because of the sensitive nature of the situation, the analyst requested anonymity.
A western military official in Niger who is not authorized to speak to the media acknowledged that the military factions were believed to be discussing, but added that the situation remains tense and that all of the components are in place for conflict to erupt.
Speaking in Papua New Guinea, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the coup as “completely illegitimate and profoundly dangerous for the Nigeriens, Niger and the whole region.” He said that he had spoken repeatedly with President Mohamed Bazoum, and that the detained leader is in good health.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told French media that there was still time to end what she described as an “attempted coup.”
“If you are hearing me speak of an attempted coup, that’s because we do not regard things as definitive,” French media quoted Colonna as saying. She also spoke of “possible exits if those responsible for this attempt hear the message from the international community.”
Niger is regarded as the West’s final partner in the war against terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Daesh group in Africa’s Sahel region, where Russia and the West have competed for influence in the fight against extremism. France, which administered Niger as a colony until 1960, has 1,500 soldiers in the country who work along with the Nigeriens on joint operations.