APA-Niamey (Niger) Until the presidential guards under his command seized hold of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, little has been known of General Omar Tchiani.
The mysterious chief of the presidential guard since 2015 is from the Tillabéri region of western Niger.
His name kept popping up since the announcement, this Wednesday, July 26, 2023, of a “change in mood” of certain elements of the Nigerien presidential guard.
Even as the situation unfolds in Niamey several hours after the apparent coup bid information on General Tchiani is almost non-existent.
Adding to the confusing situation is that several first names have been attributed to him.
A confidant of former President Mahamadou Issoufou, he has led, since 2015, this elite corps of the Nigerien army, in charge of the security of the head of state.
By virtue of a mission he fulfilled by routing soldiers who tried to seize power last year. President Bazoum, as Issoufou’s immediate successor handed General Tchiani his vote of confidence by maintaining him in this strategic position.
Although the world does not know the reason for the insurrection, several sources speak of the desire of the current head of state to reorganise his security apparatus which involves removing his dependence on General Tchiani and his presidential guards.
For two years, a false decree stating his replacement by General Mohamed Toumba has been circulating on social media platforms.
Meanwhile attempts at negotiations between the mutineers and President Bazoum have so far not been successful.
The coupists late on Wednesday, announced on national television that they have staged a coup and that the constitution has been suspended. curfew imposed and state institutions closed.
They have also announced a closure of the country’s borders.
President Bazoum remains unharmed, according to sources from his entourage, but his movements are limited while the palace, where he is still detained has been off-limit.
According to the presidency, General Omar Tchiani has so far been unable to win the backing of the rest of the national army which it claims oppose the coup attempt by the presidential guard.
This unit has, in the past, served as a springboard for some officers to seize power.
Ibrahim Baré Mainassara who led Niger from January 1996 to April 1999 and his killer following his physical elimination on the airport tarmac in the capital, Niamey, Daouda Malam Wanké, had all led the presidential guard.
A troubled political past
Since its independence, Niger has experienced four coups and several attempts to seize power. Hamani Diori, the country’s first president, was the first victim.
As president of the landlocked West African country in November 1960, he was overthrown on April 15, 1974 by Lieutenant-Colonel Seyni Kountché.
He faced several coup attempts in 1975, 1976 and 1983. Died of a brain tumor, he was replaced on November 10, 1987 by his chief of staff Ali Saïbou.
Democracy returned to Niger in 1991 following a national conference which appointed a civilian government.
The 1993 multi-party election marked the coming to power of Mahamane Ousmane.
The latter will be overthrown three years later, on January 27, 1996, by Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara.
This junta leader will in turn be assassinated during the coup of April 9, 1999 led by Commander Daouda Malam Wanké, head of the presidential guard.
The latter agrees to return power to a civilian regime and organise presidential election which was won on November 24, 1999 by Mamadou Tandja.
This former army colonel and leader of MNSD-Nassara, the former single party suffered the same fate as some of his predecessors.
He was overthrown on February 18, 2010 by soldiers.
In early 2011, a presidential election was organised and Mahamadou Issoufou, who led the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) was elected to the highest office.
At the end of his second and last term, he handed over power to Mohamed Bazoum, winner of the second round of the presidential election, on February 21, 2021.
The scheduled April 2 inauguration of Mohamed Bazoum was clouded in uncertainty until the energetic intervention of the presidential guard helped him assume office.
It is this same unit whose leader eventually turned against the president.
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