APA – Niamey (Niger) Rhissa Ag Boula, a former warlord in Niger on Tuesday announced the creation of the Resistance Council for the Republic (CRR), a political movement dedicated to restoring the deposed regime of Mohamed Bazoum by “all means necessary.”
“The CRR is a political movement that will work to re-establish order, constitutional legality and President Bazoum in the fullness of his functions (… by) all necessary means,” explained the former leader of the Tuareg rebellion in Niger in the early 1990s and between 2007 and 2010.
Already Minister of Tourism from 1997 to 2004, he returned to business under Mahamdou Issoufou as Minister to the Presidency, responsible for investment programmes in the Agadez region. When he came to power in April 2021, Mohamed Bazoum kept him in this position.
Rhissa Ag Boula called on the military “respectful of their oath and of the people, to put an end to the mutiny and to proceed, without delay, to the arrest of General Tchiani”, the author of the coup on 26 July.
The fledgling movement said it did not understand why the military had burst onto the political scene at a time when “the indicators are in the green” in Niger.
The CRR points to “political and social stability” and the “improvement in the security, economic and financial situation,” as proof of this, accusing General Abourahamane Tchiani of having betrayed “his oath and the trust placed in him, by attacking the republic and its institutions.”
In the face of the junta’s “categorical refusal to engage in constructive dialogue,” its extremist attitude, mass manipulation and its temptation to call in Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner group,” the former warlord called on “sincere and patriotic democrats” to rally around the Council of Resistance for the Republic.
The CRR urged “all those of goodwill to spare no effort to re-establish legality and republican order in Niger and to support it in the fight it is undertaking.”
The movement lent its support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its partners to intervene and restore constitutional order in Niamey.
The regional body had given the coup plotters until last Sunday to release President Bazoum and restore him to office.
Following the expiry of this ultimatum, ECOWAS said it was now favouring dialogue to resolve the crisis, while the head of the junta, with the support of Mali and Burkina Faso, appointed Lamine Zeine as Prime Minister.
SD/ac/fss/as/APA