The military junta that overthrew Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 has announced the appointment of new governors for the eight regions of the country.
The coup leaders, who call themselves the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and the Rule of Law (CNRDL), said the new governors are part of their efforts to restore stability and security in Niger.
The new governors are mostly senior military officers, with the exception of the governor of Maradi, who is an inspector general of police. The CNRDL said the governors will be responsible for implementing the decisions of the junta and ensuring the protection of the population and public order.
The new governors are as follows:
– Agadez: Brigade General Ibro Boulama
– Dosso: Brigadier General Iro Oumarou
– Diffa: Brigadier General Ibrahim Bagadoma
– Niamey: Brigadier General Abdou Assouman Harouna
– Tahoua: Major Colonel Oumarou Tawayé
– Maradi: Inspector General of Police Issoufou Mamane
– Tillabery: Lieutenant Colonel Maïna Boukar
– Zinder: Colonel EF Labo Issoufou
The CNRDL said it will soon announce a transitional government that will lead Niger to a return to constitutional order and democratic elections. The junta has suspended the constitution and dissolved all state institutions, including the parliament and the constitutional court.
The coup has been widely condemned by regional and international organizations, such as ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States, who have called for the immediate release of President Bazoum and his government. They have also urged the coup leaders to respect human rights and refrain from violence.
President Bazoum, who was elected in February 2021 with 56 percent of the vote, has refused to resign and has called on Nigeriens to resist and protect the country’s “hard-earned” democratic gains.
Niger is a key partner in the fight against Islamist insurgents in the Sahel region, hosting French and US military bases. The coup has raised fears of further instability and insecurity in the region, which has already witnessed coups in Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years.
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