2ND LEAD: Niger coup: Head of presidential guard General Tchiani named head of transitional govt (Eds: Adds Tchiani's broadcast, writethrough)
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - General Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of Niger’s presidential guard, who has been named head of a transitional government in Niger following last Wednesday's coup that ousted President Mohammed Bazoum, has called for support of the citizens as he justifies the coup.
This is as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called an urgent summit in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday to discuss the development in Niger.
Gen. Tchiani, named as president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), in a broadcast called on Nigeriens to support the action of the army in order to "restore peace and security' in the country.
"The action is motivated by the sole desire to preserve our dear homeland in the face, on the one hand, of the continuous deterioration of the security situation without the authorities giving an idea of a way out of the crisis and, on the other hand, of poor and social governance," he said.
Gen. Tchiani said there was "the harsh reality" of insecurity in the country with high numbers of deaths, displaced, humiliation and frustration, referring to terrorist attacks that have caused heavy casualties in the country.
He said that the security approach by the ousted president "has not made it possible to secure our country despite the heavy sacrifices made by Nigeriens and the significant support of our external partners".
"We can no longer continue with the same approach proposed so far at the risk of witnessing the gradual disappearance of our country," he said.
Gen. Tchiani claimed that heavily armed bandits caught in operations were released for "the sole reason that they would be allies".
He questioned the meaning and scope of a security approach to the fight against terrorism which excludes any real collaboration with Niger's neighbours - Burkina Faso and Mali.
General Tchiani, 62, has been head of the presidential guard since 2011, having been promoted under President Mahamadou Issoufou.
He was the one who thwarted a coup attempt in March 2021, when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace days before President Bazoum was due to be sworn in.
The coup was announced by Major-Colonel Amadou Abdramane, but General Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, was always seen as the man behind the overthrow of President Bazoum.
Indeed, it was the Presidential Guard who blockaded President Bazoum's residence last Wednesday and has since held him as well as key ministers captive.
Colonel-Major Abdramane cited the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance as the reasons for the coup.
All national institutions have been suspended, the land borders have been temporarily closed and a night curfew has been imposed from 21:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT until further notice.
The military authorities have subsequently suspended all activities of political parties until further notice.
Colonel Major Abdramane said: “We have decided to put an end to the regime that you know," adding "All external partners are asked not to interfere."
Niger is close with Western powers in a region where jihadist insurgencies which have destabilised the Sahel region with the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group having a strong foothold in Mali and seen to be moving to Burkina Faso.
The leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is said to have voiced support for the coup.
Niger has been a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa.
France, the former colonial power, and the US, both have military bases in the uranium-rich country.
France moved some of its soldiers to Niger when Mali expelled them last year.
Niger military joins three other West African countries -- Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso -- who have ousted their civilian governments since 2020.
Shortly after the announcement of the coup last Wednesday, the Command of the Niger Armed Forces, made up of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, threw its weight behind the action.
Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Adbou Sidikou Issa, said the Military Command, following a meeting on Wednesday, decided to support the coup.
This, he said, was because of its concern to preserve the physical integrity of the President and his family, and to avoid a deadly confrontation between the various forces, which could cause a bloodbath and affect the security of the people.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has led a chorus of condemnation of the coup and demand for the immediate and unconditional release of President Bazoum.
Speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday, the UN Secretary-General once again strongly condemned the attempted military takeover and the “assault against the democratically-elected government”.
The UN supports the efforts of the West African bloc, ECOWAS, and the African Union “to restore democracy”, he said.
Mr. Guterres said he had spoken to President Bazoum on Wednesday to express the UN’s full solidarity.
After coups in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years, provoked by the rise of jihadist terrorist groups across the entire Sahel region, the Secretary-General noted that the events in Niamey were part of “a disturbing trend”.
“Successive unconstitutional changes of government are having terrible effects on the development and lives of civilian populations. This is particularly glaring in countries already affected by conflict, violent extremism and terrorism, as well as the devastating effects of climate change,” he said.
News reports quote the French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, as saying President Bazoum is fine.
France has also said it will not recognise the new regime.
The new military leaders warned on Friday against any attempt at foreign military intervention to restore ousted President Bazoum.
The UN says there are two militant groups allied to both al-Qaeda and ISIL operating within Niger, one which crossed the border with Mali eight years ago, and the other from a base in northeast Nigeria.
Hundreds of people demonstrated on Thursday in the capital, Niamey and Dosso in the south-west in support of the coup.
They gathered in front of the headquarters of the National Assembly, chanted slogans hostile to France, the colonial ruler, and the presence of the French army in Niger. Niger and Russia flags were waved by some demonstrators.
They then marched to the headquarters of President Bazoum's party, which they ransacked and torched.
The Ministry of the Interior on Friday banned all public demonstrations and asked security forces to protect the public and their property.
“Public demonstrations for any motive whatsoever remain prohibited until further notice. The state will ensure that the law is enforced,” it said in a statement.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations and African Union Commission (AUC) as well as the United States and France, have condemned the coup.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has spoken with ousted President Bazoum and conveyed the "unwavering support" of the United States for him and Niger’s democracy.
The Chairperson of the AUC, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a statement that he strongly condemns such actions by members of the military "acting in total betrayal of their republican duty".
He has urged them to immediately "cease these unacceptable actions".
ECOWAS has condemned in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and called on the coup plotters to free the democratically-elected President of the Republic immediately and without any condition.
"ECOWAS and the international community will hold all those involved in the plot accountable for the security and safety of the President, his family, members of the government and the general public," ECOWAS warned.
ECOWAS has a strong position against military coups and is expected to convene an emergency meeting to condemn the coup, ask for the restoration of the civilian government, suspend Niger from the organisation and slap sanctions if they fail to comply.
There have been four coups since Niger gained independence from France in 1960, the last occurring in 2010.
-0- PANA MA 28July2023
