Niger's military junta dissolves regional councils

The military junta which has governed Niger since July last year has dissolved the country's regional governments. Thus, all the regional presidents have been dismissed, along with the mayors, who had been elected at the end of 2020. The order, signed by General Abdourahamane Tiani, was announced on public television. However, no explanation was given as to the reason for this dissolution. Thus, it is interpreted as a way to take influence away from the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), in power until July 26, 2023. 

At the time of the coup d'état by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, and up to this point, the military authorities had respected municipal and regional governments. In fact, a few days after the coup, on August 26, the regional presidents grouped in ARENI (Association of Regions of Niger) made public - together with the mayors - the “Declaration of the Territorial Collectivities of Niger”, in which they expressed their willingness to participate in the National Dialogue promoted by the new authorities.

The situation, however, has completely changed. General Tiani has basically appointed soldiers and policemen to replace mayors and regional presidents. The capital, Niamey, will now be led by an army colonel replacing the mayor, Oumarou Dogari. In the Tahoua Region, one of the most active in ORU Fogar, President Nabirni Sani has also been replaced by a colonel.

The rebels justified their seizure of power and the overthrow of the elected President Mohamed Bazoum by the deterioration of the security, economic and social situation throughout the country. For years, Niger has been facing deadly jihadist attacks in the west and southeast, in the Lake Chad Basin and in the Three Borders area with Burkina Faso and Mali.