A coup in Niger should come as no surprise. Since the country's independence in 1960, the ruling authorities have been overthrown four times. Not to mention the countless attempts that have marked the political history of this fragile West African state. The most recent failed attempt took place two days before the inauguration of president-elect Mohamed Bazoum, in March 2021. At the time, the threat was quickly quelled. However, in a region where the military has overthrown three civilian regimes in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Conakry in the space of a few years, the danger is ever-present.
However, in the early hours of General Abdourahamane Tiani's coup on Wednesday, July 26, the president's entourage and Western diplomatic circles were stunned. Why did the country fall so quickly into the hands of a junta whose leading figure was a key player in the regime he overthrew? Who instigated the coup? Who benefited from it? Here is a look back at the early hours of a coup that threatens to shift the balance of power in West Africa.
It all began with a palace revolution. "Around 8:00 am, President Bazoum called me to say that he wanted to go to his office, but that the presidential guard was preventing him from leaving his residence," said Rhissa Ag Boula, a minister and adviser to Bazoum. As they approached the presidency, palace staff were asked to turn back, and those working in the ministries along Boulevard de la République were evacuated in the late morning. From the outset, Tiani's name was on everyone's lips.
The general is a loyal follower of former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who appointed him head of the presidential guard in 2011. The 59-year-old senior officer from Filingué, in the southwest of the country, is known for his temperament and toughness. For a decade, he guarded his benefactor's power and wealth.
Within the palace, some have long doubted his loyalty. "We've had warnings about Tiani for a year now," said an adviser to the head of state. "We tried to get the president's attention, but each time, he replied: 'Tiani is loyal, I trust him completely.' He was naive," said a West African security source.
Contrary to rumors circulating in the early hours of the coup, Bazoum had no intention of dismissing the head of the presidential guard. However, he was less inclined than his predecessor to open the purse strings freely. According to the same security source, "the presidential guard had no budget of its own, but every week, Tiani saw the president, who gave him several million CFA francs. When there were special operations, for example when the president traveled to regional areas, he would ask for additional funds. All this without being accountable. Bazoum asked Tiani for transparency and accountability."
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