Historic Moment: Niger Republic’s Military Strongman Inaugurated As President

Published March 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM

Niger Republic’s junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, has been officially sworn in as president, ushering in a five-year transition period under a newly established charter.

Tchiani, a former general and head of the presidential guard who orchestrated the 2023 coup, has also been elevated to the rank of army general. Additionally, he signed a decree dissolving all political parties in the country.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Wednesday in Niamey, the capital, marking the official launch of the “flexible” five-year transition, as confirmed by government secretary-general Mahamane Roufai.

This move directly counters the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been advocating for Niger’s reinstatement into the regional bloc and a return to democratic governance.

Following the coup, Tchiani initially proposed a three-year transition to civilian rule, a plan ECOWAS rejected, warning of possible military intervention. With negotiations failing, Niger, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, formally withdrew from ECOWAS, finalizing their departure earlier this year.