On Wednesday, there was a military coup in the African nation of Niger. While I am not qualified to analyze the geo-political effects of this coup, my one previous experience in Thailand in the 1970s when there was a very short-lived coup in 1977 has piqued my interest in how the local media covers these things. In the case of the short-lived coup in Thailand when I was living there, the local media had to do a tap dance, initially reporting how the coup leaders had saved the country, and then backflipping when the government took back control. They basically reported that they were forced to report favorably on the coup. As always happens in coups, one of the first things coup leaders do is take control of the media.
The below article from today's French-language newspaper, Actu Niger, is translated by Fousesquawk.
Official: General A. Tchiani appointed president of CNSP, the military junta that overthrew Bazoum
Friday 28 Jul;y 2023 at 12:12
Three days after announcing the dismissal of President Bazoum Mohamed, the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) appointed General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Friday July 28, 2023 as chief of the military junta now in command of Niger. Until then the head of the presidential guard, a post he occupied since 2011, the new strongman of the country right away addressed the nation in a message to explain the reasons the defense and security forces (FDS) again intervened in the political scene of the country in putting an end to the normal democratic process and infringed on the constitutional order.
In the message to the nation that he addressed Friday around noon (Niamey time), the head of the junta recounted the principal reasons that motivated the defense and security forces (FDS) to "assume their responsibilities". It was about, as had been previously announced by the spokesperson of the CNSP during the declaration of the seizure of power on Wednesday, 26 July, "the degradation of the security situation" as well as "the poor political, economical, and social governance."
It is particularly the management of security that pushed the junta to take power, and according to the explanations of General Abdourahmane on this question, called into question 'the political discourse" of the government that denied, according to him, "the hard reality with its share of deaths, displacements, humiliation, and frustration," and this, he added, in spite the calls for order from the military heads. The former head of the presidential guard, among other things, denounced certain decisions taken by the former regime, notably, "the freeing of armed terrorist leaders' as well as "the absence of coordination" with Mali and Burkina, neighboring countries of Niger, which, according to him, face the same security threats.
According to the president of the CNSP, "the current security approach did not allow the securing of the country in spite of heavy sacrifices by Nigeriennes and the appreciable support of our exterior partners." And for General Abdourahmane, it is out of the question, "to continue with the same approach, the same actors, and the same results."
In his speech, the new strongman of the country reaffirmed the will of the CNSP, "'to respect all its international commitments". In addition, he continued, "The council, through my voice, asks of partners and friends of Niger, in this crucial stage in the life of our country, to trust our defense and security forces, guarantors of national unity, the territorial integrity and the greater interests of our nation."
It must be noted that before this initial speech by the now chief of state of Niger, the members of the junta gathered and posed for the first official photo in which we recognize well-known figures notably, Division General Salifou Modi, ex-chief of the army, or the very well known Colonel-Major Djibrilla Himadou, current president of the Nigerienne Football Federation (FENIFOOT). These two superior officers of the Nigerienne army took part in previous coups in 2010 (CSRD by General Salou Djibo), 1999 (CRN by Commandant Mallam Wanke), as well as that of 1996 (CSN by Genral Ibrahim Bare Mainassara).
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