According to the military leaders in a broadcast on Thursday, the new government is backed by a decree read out on the country’s national television on Thursday.
Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will lead a 21-member government, with generals from the new military governing council heading the defence and interior ministries.
The Legal Attorney Blog recalls this development is unfolding barely 24 hours after deposed president Mohamed Bozoum was released from detention by the military junta that took over from him on July 26th.
On Thursday, the Coup plotters in Niger Republic announced the formation of a new government a few hours before an ECOWAS meeting scheduled to hold today.
The new government was announced on state TV at 00:30 GMT (01:30 local time) with the pronouncement of new cabinet members
The new government comprises 21 ministers, including two ministers of state and a delegate minister.
This announcement is in defiance of calls by ECOWAS and other international organisations for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum. The junta had defied ECOWAS’s ultimatum to reinstate Mr Bazoum as president.
Ex-Emir Sanusi II Briefs Tinubu On Meeting With Niger Coup Leaders.
Ex-Rebel, Ag Boula initiates Anti-coup Movement in Niger.
Islamic Council, Catholic Bishops Have Warned Against Military Invasion: Niger.
ECOWAS will today hold its second emergency meeting of heads of state to discuss Niger. There have been several calls, especially within Nigeria, to the bloc to rethink its decision to use force if the putschists remain recalcitrant.
About three ECOWAS delegations have been sent to meet with the junta, all returning with no positive response.
The new Niger government, comprised of military and civilian personalities, is led by interim Prime Minister Lamine Zeine Ali Mahamane, who will double up as the minister of economy and finance.
Former chief of staff Salifou Mody, a lieutenant general widely considered coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani’s deputy, has been named minister of national defence.
Abdourahmane Amadou, who has been reading most of the communique on state TV since the July 26th coup, is the minister of youth and sports.
The junta has already named new military chiefs and sacked most senior government officials who served in Mr Bazoum’s administration.
