General Tchiani: Shadowy army veteran who seized power in Niger
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General Abdourahamane Tchiani declared himself Niger's new leader after staging a takeover.
PHOTO: AFP
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NIAMEY – General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the chief of Niger’s powerful presidential guard who took power after a military coup, is an army veteran who has foiled similar uprisings in the restive West African nation.
In his 50s, Gen Tchiani has shunned the limelight despite a stellar military career which saw him lead the elite 700-member unit from 2011 up until now.
“He is not well known outside military circles. He is a man in the background, powerful,” said Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, a researcher with the International Crisis Group think-tank.
On Friday, Gen Tchiani declared himself leader his presidential guard seized President Mohamed Bazoum
Niger is an abysmally poor nation but with vast deposits of uranium. It has suffered four coups since independence from France in 1960 and several other failed putsch attempts and, like its neighbours, is in the throes of Islamic militant violence.
Mr Bazoum – a key ally of the West in fighting militancy in sub-Saharan Africa – was the first elected leader in Niger to succeed another since independence.
Gen Tchiani is a staunch ally of former president Mahamadou Issoufou, Mr Bazoum’s predecessor, who appointed him head of the presidential guard in 2011.
Mr Bazoum kept him in the job after taking over from Mr Issoufou, who served two terms, but relations between the general and the ousted President deteriorated in the past months, according to sources close to Mr Bazoum.
They told AFP that the deposed leader had been considering replacing Gen Tchiani as the head of the presidential guard.
The general, meanwhile, began shunning “official ceremonies and activities” of the President and sent his deputy, Colonel Ibroh Amadou Bacharou, also a member of the new junta, to represent him, a source close to Mr Bazoum said.
‘Brave’ and ‘popular’
Another source close to the deposed leader said Gen Tchiani’s replacement was due to be decided at a Cabinet meeting on July 24.
The general is originally from Filingue, an arid zone about 200km north-west of the capital Niamey.
It lies in the volatile Tillaberi region, which has borne the brunt of Islamic militant attacks in the past years.
Tillaberi has been repeatedly attacked for nearly eight years by insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group as well as militants from neighbouring Nigeria.
The vast area, roughly the size of South Korea, has about 150,000 internally displaced people, according to the United Nations.
Gen Tchiani’s critics say he is a controversial figure, but those close to him describe him as “brave” and “popular”.
“How could he have led his men in the putsch if they didn’t have confidence in him?“ said civil society figure Issa Abdou.
A government official said Gen Tchiani, under Mr Issoufou’s orders, had “transformed the presidential guard into a powerful machine equipped with sophisticated weapons”.
The general has in the past quashed several coup bids, notably in 2021 and 2022.
“General Tchiani is an officer who has proven himself on the ground,” said former soldier Amadou Bounty Diallo.
The new junta comprises senior officers, including Salifou Mody, the former chief of staff of the armed forces who was sacked in April. AFP
