Abdourahamane Tiani

Abdourahamane Tiani (Hausa: [áb.dú.ɽà.há.mà.nè t͡ʃáː.nì]; often incorrectly spelled Tchiani; born 1 January 1964) is a Nigerien military officer and politician who has served as the 11th president of Niger since 2025. Known for his anti-imperialist, pan-Africanist and Hausa nationalist views, Tiani served as the chief of the Nigerien presidential guard from 2011 to 2023 when he overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum in a coup, becoming the leader of a junta. He was inaugurated as president of Niger two years later. Born in Toukounous to a Hausa family, Tiani received military training from the National School of Active Officers in Thiès, Senegal. He led Nigerien military forces in Agadez, Diffa and Zinder regions to combat drug trafficking. He later served in United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Ivory Coast, Sudan, and DR Congo. In 2011, Tiani was assigned the command of the Nigerien presidential guard and became a close ally of President Mahamadou Issoufou; however, relations soured after Tiani was accused of conspiring against Issoufou and unsuccessfully attempted a coup in 2021. Issoufou's successor Mohamed Bazoum retained Tiani in his position. In early 2023, Tiani gained knowledge of Bazoum's attempt to dismiss him as head of the presidential guard. This led to Tiani overthrowing Bazoum in the July 2023 coup. Tiani subsequently became de facto ruler of Niger and declared himself president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. He oversaw a diplomatic standoff with ECOWAS stemming from the coup and consequently withdrew from ECOWAS. He formed the Alliance of Sahel States along with Burkina Faso and Mali in July 2024. Tiani has also aligned Niger with Russia, receiving help from Wagner Group forces to fight an insurgency in western Niger. In January 2025, Tiani led Niger to become the first African country and fifth worldwide to eradicate onchocerciasis....