Niger: Military regime following coup has formed a government
Niger's coup military regime has formed a government, according to a decree by the country's new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, read out on national television on Wednesday night, AFP and Agerpres report.
The 21-member government, announced just ahead of a crucial Thursday summit of Niger's West African neighbours in Abuja, is headed by Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, who was appointed on Monday.
It includes 20 ministers. Those for Defence and Interior are generals from the National Council for the Salvation of the Fatherland (CNSP) which took power, namely General Salifou Mody and General Mohamed Toumba.
This government has been the base of the military regime since it toppled elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power on 26 July and appears in defiance of leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who are meeting in Abuja on Thursday to assess the situation in Niger.
"Important decisions" are expected at the summit, according to the regional organisation, which reaffirmed that it favours diplomatic means to restore constitutional order in Niger, while maintaining its threat to use force to restore President Bazoum to office.
ECOWAS is seen by the new leaders in Niamey as an organisation "in the pay" of France, a former colonial power, their main target since they took power.
On Wednesday, they accused Paris of having violated Niger's airspace, which had been closed since Sunday, with a French army plane from Chad this morning and of "liberating terrorists". The accusations were immediately rejected by France.
