Niger’s Military Junta Forms New Government, Announce 21 Ministers

The Niger Republic military junta has announced the formation of a new government and the appointment of 21 persons as ministers.

Naija News reports that the coup leaders made the announcement in a televised broadcast on Wednesday night, two weeks after toppling President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup.

The coup leaders said the newly appointed Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, will lead 21 new ministers forming the new government.

It comes as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government are set to hold a summit on Thursday in Abuja to reach an agreement on the next line of action regarding the recent coup in Niger.

The meeting could prove a pivotal moment in the standoff. The bloc’s leaders are expected to agree on the next steps, which could include military intervention, which ECOWAS has said would be a last resort.