It was exactly one year ago this Friday, July 26, that the military junta of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP) took power in Niger, with a military coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. General Abdourahamane Tiani, president of the CNSP, gave a speech on Thursday evening on this occasion on state television RTN. No announcement, but a retrospective in the form of a congratulations.
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General Tiani began by justifying the coup he led a year ago by the ” existential threats » which weighed on the country, starting with « the dark shores of terrorism “, despite the ” placing the country under the supervision of foreign military bases. »
General Tiani also cited the ” plundering of resources “, attributed to the fallen regime, presented as ” vassalized ” by ” the former colonial power » – France not being specifically mentioned.
To respond to what is presented as the ” immense hope ” sparked by this coup, General Tiani claims to have launched the ” refoundation ” of the country around four axes: the strengthening of security and social cohesion, the promotion of good governance, the development of production bases and the acceleration of social reforms. The president of the CNSP affirms to have for this ” learned from the impact of illegal, unfair and inhumane sanctions on a ECOWAS to orders. »
Strengthening the armed forces
On the defense side, ” The rise in power of our forces in the theatre of operations is no longer in doubt. “, believes General Tiani. In the fight against terrorism or against organized crime, ” Our security forces are achieving successes “, he hammered again, while rendering ” tribute ” to ” heavy sacrifices made ” by the Nigerien soldiers. General Tiani promised to continue strengthening the capacities of the armed forces with the ” acquisition of the required means. »
Believing that the conquest of sovereignty requires above all the exploitation of national resources, General Tiani cited the launch of an irrigation program, and the commitment of the authorities to use local personnel and companies as a priority in the exploitation of natural resources.
” Any mining or oil company (…) will have its license withdrawn “if it violates the legal provisions, General Tiani also affirmed, giving several examples, including that of Imouraren. And to promise the imminent launch of an oil refinery and a petrochemical complex in Dosso.
” Our march towards full sovereignty is inexorable. »
On the geopolitical level, General Tiani welcomed the creation, at the beginning of the month, with Burkina Faso and Mali, of the Confederation of Sahel States” despite the pitfalls posed by those who are disturbed by our independence ” General Tiani thus thanked the transitional Burkinabe president, Captain Ibrahim Traoreand the Malian transitional president, Colonel Assimi Goïta” for the titanic work accomplished despite all the threats made and plots hatched ” General Tiani reaffirmed the commitment of the three countries on the path ” of the break with the neocolonial order » : « No State, no inter-State organization will dictate our conduct. (…) Our march towards full and complete sovereignty is inexorable. »
And to conclude by citing a series of measures forming the balance sheet of this first year in power: the denunciation of the Defense agreements which bound the Niger to France, the dismissal of the French ambassador, the suspension of ” some French propaganda media » (RFI and France 24), the withdrawal from the G5 Sahel, the repeal of the law on illegal trafficking of migrants, the withdrawal from ECOWAS, the denunciation of the military agreement with Benin, the nationalization of the national water company, the denunciation of the tax convention established with France, or the denunciation of the agreement on the status of military personnel of the United States.
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