The Junta in the Niger Republic is moving to consolidate its grip on power, as it has unveiled a 21-member cabinet to be led by a former Economy Minister under a previous administration, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, as Prime Minister.
Zeine left public office when the Muhamadu Tandja government was ousted in a coup thirteen years ago and joined the African Development Bank.
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An official, Mahamane Roufai Laouali, who identified himself as the “Secretary General of the Government”, read out 21 names on state television without specifying any further plans.
Three coup leaders have been named ministers of defence, interior, and sports in the new government, which is about half the size of that of the detained Bazoum.
This is as another emergency summit of ECOWAS gets underway in Abuja, to further discuss the coup and how to get the ousted Bazoum reinstated.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
