The Nigerien junta on Tuesday named a civilian prime minister as it continued to settle in power, defying a deadline issued by regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and other Western allies to revert to constitutional order.
General Abdourahmane Tchian, head of the country’s new military council, which kicked out the civilian government of President Mohammed Bazoum on July 26, 2023, on Tuesday named Mr Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, as Prime Minister.
Zeine is the Country Director for the African Development Bank (AfDB) in neighbouring Chad.
The move came a day after a local seven-day ultimatum given by Ecowas for Niger to revert power to Bazoum elapsed.
And it came as the West African leaders scheduled an extraordinary meeting on the political crisis in Niger on Tuesday afternoon to discuss potential response.
Zaine, 58, had also served as economy and finance minister under President Mamadou Tandja, who led the country from 1999 to 2010.
Zeine, who previously served at AfDB country manager in Ivory Coast and Gabon, is expected to lead consultations for the formation of a new government.
The military toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, placed him under house arrest and suspended constitution.
But it has faced a barrage of pressure from the 14-member Ecowas and Western allies like the US and France. Yet it is supported by military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea who similarly toppled civilian leaders during the Covid-19 season.
Ecowas had given coup movers in Niger seven days to restore constitutional order with threats to intervene militarily.
