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![]() Monday, April 12, 1999 Published at 07:10 GMT 08:10 UK ![]() ![]() World: Africa ![]() New military leader for Niger ![]() The military has dissolved all Niger's governing institutions ![]()
State radio named Major Wanke the new president and reported that he will govern a National Council for Reconciliation for the next nine months.
He was assassinated by the presidential guard which Major Wanke had been in charge of, according to the US State Department and most other sources including eyewitnesses. Diplomatic sources say Major Wanke himself took part in the killing. 'Classic coup'
Officials have not said whether the transition program will involve elections or an eventual change to civilian rule. Reporting from the Niger capital, Niamey, the BBC's Mark Doyle said the announcement confirms that Niger has experienced a classic coup d'etat by a group of military officers and ends the uncertainty of the last few days during which there was a power vacuum. Army chief refuses leadership All Niger's superior military and police officers, and the head of the army, Colonel Moussa Moumouni Djermakoye, have been retired.
Military sources say he had been asked to govern by other chiefs of staff and military officials. Colonel Djemarkoye reportedly demanded the arrest of the soldiers who gunned down the former president as a condition for his assuming power. Major Wanke absent from funeral
Speaking on condition of anonymity, eye-witnesses say Presidential Guard members repeatedly shot President Bare with a machine gun as he crossed the tarmac at Niamey's airport Friday to board a helicopter The president's body was buried on Sunday at his birthplace, the village of Dougema, about 200km south of the capital. Major Douda Mallan Wanke was reported to be absent from the ceremony. Niger has been under a military regime since General Mainassara seized power in a coup d'etat three years ago. ![]() |
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