Military government appoints prime minister, ECOWAS meets after 'ultimatum' deadline are some of the notable developments in the situation in Niger.
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| Mr. Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine was appointed Prime Minister by the Niger military government. (Source: AFP) |
On August 7, on national television, the military government in Niger announced the appointment of Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as Prime Minister.
Mr. Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine served as Finance Minister from 2002 to 2010 under former President Mamadou Tandja to overcome the chaotic economic and financial situation at that time.
Before being appointed as the new Prime Minister, Mr. Lamine Zeine, a trained economist, was the resident representative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Chad, Ivory Coast and Gabon.
Born in 1965 in Zinder, Niger's second most populous city, he has been working in the Ministry of Economy and Finance since 1991 after studying at the National School of Administration (ENA) in Niamey. He is also a graduate of the Marseille Centre for Financial, Economic and Banking Studies and the University of Paris-I in France.
The latest move comes as the international community seeks to restore the situation in the country. The deadline for the ultimatum given by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the military government in Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum has passed.
However, Niger's Western and African partners remain divided over whether to intervene militarily. Mr Bazoum has been under house arrest in his residence since the coup.
Meanwhile, on the same day, ECOWAS spokesman Emos Lungu said the bloc will hold a Summit in Nigeria's capital Abuja on August 10 to continue discussing the coup in Niger.
Earlier, on August 7, an anonymous ECOWAS commander said that the bloc “needs more preparation time” if it wants to intervene militarily in Niger. Currently, the military government in Niger has rejected the “ultimatum”, closed its airspace and is ready to “respond strongly and immediately”. Neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso have affirmed that they will support this force.
For its part, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said it is in contact with its citizens in Niger. The country currently has no plans to evacuate those still stranded in the African country.
However, the mission will continue to provide necessary support information to ensure safety. There are currently about 20 Swiss nationals in Niger. Previously, 13 Swiss citizens left Niger on August 6.
In a related development, Swiss airlines announced flight route adjustments due to Niger's airspace closure. Affected passengers can rebook to find suitable routes.
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