Niger's junta names colonel as new leader
Top story: After Niger President Mamadou Tandja (pictured) was captured in a military coup yesterday, a certain amount of normalcy has reportedly returned to the capital city of Niamey, where businesses and offices reopened as usual today.
The country's new military junta, calling itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, has appointed squadron leader, Col. Salou Djibo as its leader. The military has promised to restore civilian rule and turn the country into "an example of democracy and of good governance," but has not set a timetable for relinquishing power. Some members of the junta participated in Niger's last coup in 1999, which set the stage for Tandja's rise to power.
Tandja had drawn international and domestic criticism for constitutional reforms in 2009 which greatly expanded his powers and extended his term. The country's leaders have been under restrictive international sanctions for the last several months.
The African Union and former colonial power France have both condemned the coup as an unconstitutional seizure of power. U.S. State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley was somewhat more ambiguous. "President Tandja has been trying to extend his mandate in office. And obviously, that may well have been, you know, an act on his behalf that precipitated this act today," he said.
Toyota: After previously declining, Toyota President Akio Toyoda will testify before the U.S. Congress next week.
The country's new military junta, calling itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, has appointed squadron leader, Col. Salou Djibo as its leader. The military has promised to restore civilian rule and turn the country into "an example of democracy and of good governance," but has not set a timetable for relinquishing power. Some members of the junta participated in Niger's last coup in 1999, which set the stage for Tandja's rise to power.
Tandja had drawn international and domestic criticism for constitutional reforms in 2009 which greatly expanded his powers and extended his term. The country's leaders have been under restrictive international sanctions for the last several months.
The African Union and former colonial power France have both condemned the coup as an unconstitutional seizure of power. U.S. State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley was somewhat more ambiguous. "President Tandja has been trying to extend his mandate in office. And obviously, that may well have been, you know, an act on his behalf that precipitated this act today," he said.
Toyota: After previously declining, Toyota President Akio Toyoda will testify before the U.S. Congress next week.
| Asia
Middle East
Africa
Europe
Americas
-By Joshua Keating |  |
Boureima HAMA/AFP/Getty Images
No comments:
Post a Comment