Niger Junta Leader Abdourahamane Tiani Sworn in as President for Five-Year Transition

The leader of the Niger Republic’s military junta Abdourahamane Tiani, has been officially sworn in as the country’s president for a transition period of five years. The ceremony, held in Niamey on Wednesday, marks the beginning of a “flexible” transition under a new constitutional charter.

Tiani, a former general and head of the presidential guard, led the coup in 2023 that overthrew the democratically elected government. In addition to assuming the presidency, Tiani was promoted to the highest military rank in Niger, army general, and signed a decree dissolving all political parties in the country.

The five-year transition period outlined by Tiani contradicts the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been working to reinstate civilian rule and bring Niger back into the regional bloc. Shortly after the coup, Tiani proposed a return to civilian governance within three years, but ECOWAS rejected this timeline and threatened military intervention.

As diplomatic negotiations stalled, Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, withdrew from ECOWAS, a decision that was made permanent earlier this year, further deepening the country’s isolation.