Abdourahamane Tchiani facts for kids

Abdourahamane Tchiani (Arabic: عبد الرحمن تشياني, romanized: ‘Abd ar-Rahman Tshiyānī) is a military officer from Niger. He was born in 1960 or 1961, or on January 1, 1964. He is currently the leader of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. This is a group of military officers who took control of the country.

Before this, he was the chief of Niger's Presidential Guard from 2011 to 2023. He played a big part in the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état. During this event, he held President Mohamed Bazoum in the presidential palace. On July 28, 2023, he announced he was the new leader. This change in power led to the 2023 Nigerien crisis, which ended in 2024.

Early Life and Military Start

Abdourahamane Tchiani comes from the Tillabéri Region in western Niger. This area is a common place for people to join the Nigerien army. He joined the army in 1984. He also studied at a special military school in Thiès, Senegal.

Military Career Highlights

In 1989, Tchiani was the first officer to reach the site of the UTA Flight 772 plane crash. This happened in the Ténéré desert. For his actions, he received an award.

He also worked in United Nations peacekeeping missions. These missions help keep peace in different countries. He served in places like the Ivory Coast, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also fought against the group Boko Haram. He was part of a special force from Niger, Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

In 2011, Tchiani became the head of the Presidential Guard. He was a close helper to the president at that time, Mahamadou Issoufou. President Issoufou promoted him to the rank of general in 2018. In 2015, some people said Tchiani was involved in a plan to overthrow President Issoufou. He denied these claims in court.

In 2021, Tchiani led his unit to stop an attempted overthrow of the government. This happened just two days before President Issoufou left office. The new president, Mohamed Bazoum, kept Tchiani in his important job.

Taking Control of Power

On July 26, 2023, Tchiani led the Presidential Guard. They held President Bazoum at the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital city. This was part of the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état. Reports said that President Bazoum had planned to remove Tchiani from his position. Sources close to Bazoum said he decided this at a meeting on July 24. Their relationship had become difficult.

On July 28, Tchiani announced on state television that he was the new leader. He became the president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. He said the military took over to stop the country from "gradually falling apart." He also said that President Bazoum had tried to hide the country's "harsh reality." He criticized the government's security plans, saying they were not working well. He did not say when the country would return to being led by elected officials.

His actions led to the 2023 Nigerien crisis.

Alliance of Sahel States

After Tchiani took power, Niger joined Burkina Faso to form a new group. This group is called the Alliance of Sahel States. Under Tchiani's leadership, soldiers from the United States and the European Union left Niger. Niger also became closer with Russia. Troops from the Wagner Group, a private military company, were sent to help fight against extremist groups.

See also

In Spanish: Abdourahamane Tchiani para niños