General Abdourahamane Tiani becomes president of Niger for five years

Niger’s military leadership has issued a new constitutional framework that establishes a five -year period for the transition to civil governance, formally stable general Abdourahan Tiani as transition president.

The move was sealed during an official ceremony to implement the reimbursement card, a document that remodes the country’s political and institutional scene after the military coup of July 2023 which has extent the former President Mohamed Bazoum.

Pursuant to paper, the Niger will enter a transition period of 60 months, although officials have indicated that the temporal sequence can be revised according to the safety conditions, the national reform agenda and cooperation with the confederation of the Sahel states.

The military block strategy takes shape

The paper strengthens the growing alignment of the Niger with the neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, with whom he formally joined the alliance of the Sahel states in 2024.

The alliance is designed to deepen the regional cooperation in defense, politics and economic strategy, since the three countries pursue a shared post-cooked political vision.

Together, the blockade rejected the pressure from regional and international bodies to quickly return to civil domain, favoring a longer temporal sequence to consolidate what they describe as efforts of “refund” rooted in sovereignty and safety.

New rules on foreign military presence

A key feature of the new card faces the role of foreign military forces on Nigerien’s soil. The document establishes that any long -term presence of foreign troops must be approved by the referendum, following a wide national consultation.

In an emergency, however, the president, who also acts as a commander in chief-chief to authorize foreign military sides by decree, subject to contributions from the newly trained reimbursement advice. These implementations are limited in the field and duration, limited to the time necessary to stabilize the situation.

This change follows the expulsion of the French forces and European military operations in the months following the coup d’état of 2023. Like its Sahelian counterparties, since then Niger has moved its defense partnerships, turning more and more to Russia for assistance for security in the fight against Islamist insurgents.

A fundamental moment in post-cope governance

With the card now in force, the Niger has codified a governance model that reflects those adopted by military sovereigns in the region. Leadership claims that the long transition period is essential for the reconstruction of state institutions and the restoration of the order.

Yet critics warn that such long timing often renew military control and delay the return to democratic processes. Observers note that transparency, clear benchmark and civil commitment will be fundamental if the Niger transition roadmap builds a real reform or consolidate the authoritarian domain under a new banner.

The refund card can establish the legal framework for the future of Niger, but the direction he takes remains uncertain. What is clear is that the country has chosen to align itself more closely with a regional axis of military guided governments trying to redefine governance through Sahel.