The military in power after the coup d’état in Niger have announced the appointment of a prime minister and a commander of the presidential guard. A diplomatic offensive by the United States has so far been unsuccessful.
Almost two weeks after the military took power in Niger, the putschists have named a prime minister. In a late-night televised statement, a spokesman for the military junta named economist Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as the new prime minister.
Lamine Zeine used to be Economics and Finance Minister in the cabinet of ex-President Mamadou Tandja, who was ousted in 2010, and most recently worked as an economist for the African Development Bank in Chad, according to a Nigerien media report.
In addition, according to Nigerien military information late Monday, Lt. Col. Habibou Assoumane was appointed commander of the Presidential Guard.
ECOWAS ultimatum expired
In the bitterly poor country with around 26 million inhabitants, the military removed the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power at the end of July and suspended the constitution. Under Bazoum, Niger was one of the West’s last strategic partners in the fight against the advance of Islamist terrorists in the Sahel.
An ultimatum from the West African community of states ECOWAS to the putschists to reinstate Bazoum expired at the weekend. Otherwise ECOWAS will take measures that could also include violence, the ultimatum said.
The junta ignored the deadline, instead blocking airspace over Niger and threatening that Nigerien forces would defend themselves against any attacker. International flights have been canceled or diverted. The heads of state and government of the ECOWAS member states want to discuss how to proceed in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Thursday.
USA: No progress in talks
Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said talks between the US and Niger’s junta to settle the conflict have not progressed.
“These talks have been very frank and sometimes difficult because we are pushing for a negotiated solution. It has not been easy to achieve anything here. They have a pretty firm idea of how they want to proceed and that is not compatible with the Niger Constitution.” , Nuland said after meeting Moussa Salaou Barmou, the self-proclaimed chief of staff of the Nigerien junta, and three other military officials. “It was difficult today, I want to say that quite frankly”.
Despite US pressure, the coup leaders refused to take any action to restore civil order in the country. She was denied a meeting with the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or with the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani.