Nearly two weeks following the military takeover in Niger, the coup organizers have announced Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, a former economy minister, as the country’s new prime minister. The declaration was made by a spokesperson for the military junta during a televised address on Monday night.
Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine previously served as the minister of economy and finance under the administration of former President Mamadou Tandja. He held this position for several years until Tandja’s removal from power in 2010. More recently, Lamine Zeine was employed as an economist with the African Development Bank in Chad, as reported by Nigerien media.
In late July, the military seized control of Niger, ousting the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, and suspending the constitution of the nation, which is home to approximately 26 million people. Before the coup, under Bazoum’s leadership, Niger had been a crucial ally for Western countries in the ongoing efforts to counter the advancement of Islamist extremist groups in the Sahel region.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum to the coup plotters, demanding the reinstatement of President Bazoum. This ultimatum expired over the weekend, and ECOWAS threatened potential measures, including the use of force, if its demands were not met.
In response to these developments, the prime ministers of ECOWAS member states are scheduled to convene in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Thursday to deliberate on the appropriate course of action. The political situation in Niger remains fluid and is being closely monitored by regional and international actors.
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