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NIAMEY. – Niger’s military leaders announced the formation of a new government, Al Jazeera reported yesterday.
The cabinet, made up of 20 ministers with both military servicemen and civilians, is led by Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, who was appointed by army leaders on Monday.
The country has been ruled by a junta after it ousted the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum over two weeks ago. General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who led the coup, declared himself head of state through a state television broadcast on July 30.
Tiani said that soldiers had seized power because of persistent insecurity driven by a decade-long Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians across the Sahel, echoing justifications by military leaders in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso who have also snatched power since 2020. – AFP
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter