General Abdourahmane Tiani heads the Nigerien coup junta

Brigadier General Abdourrahmane Tiani, commander of the Nigerien Presidential Guard, heads the military junta responsible for the coup in Niger, organized in the self-styled National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CLSP).

Tiani appeared this Friday as president of the CLSP on Nigerian public television and for the first time after the coup, led by the Presidential Guard and supported by the Armed Forces, to give an account of the reasons for his action. In his speech, he criticized the policy of the ousted government of President Mohamed Bazoum for being “incoherent and effective”.

For his part, he has assured that he will respect “all the international commitments signed by the Republic of Niger and human rights”, and has asked his partners to give “all the necessary support” to the CLSP “at this crucial stage”.

A “deeply dangerous” blow

French President Emmanuel Macron warned this Friday that the coup in Niger is “deeply dangerous” for the country and the region and urged the release of the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum.

“France absolutely and firmly condemns the coup against a democratically elected leader,” he declared at a press conference from Papua New Guinea.

The French leader called for the “restoration of order” in Niger, in line with a statement previously released by the French Foreign Ministry, a country that has a strong military presence in the African country and important economic interests in uranium extraction.

The EU insists on the liberalization of Bazoum

The high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has also insisted that the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, be released “immediately”, after speaking with the president.

“I spoke again tonight with President Mohamed Bazoum. The EU reiterates its call for the immediate release of the president, whose security, physical integrity and freedom of movement must be guaranteed,” the Spanish politician wrote on the X social network, known until recently as Twitter.

French diplomatic sources reported in the early hours of Friday that Bazoum is in “good health” despite being detained at his home by the coup leaders.