Profile: Meet Pres. Bazoum, Other 20-Member Cabinet Of The Niger Coup

The military junta that overthrew Niger's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26 has named a 21-member cabinet.

The cabinet was announced in a televised broadcast on Wednesday night by Mahamane Roufai Laouali, the Secretary-General of the Government. The cabinet includes three members of the junta, who will serve as ministers of defence, interior, and sports. The other 18 members of the cabinet are civilians, including several former government officials and members of civil society. The appointment of the cabinet comes as the junta faces increasing pressure from foreign countries to reinstate Bazoum. ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, has given the junta a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate Bazoum or face intervention of whatever form. The junta has so far refused to reinstate Bazoum, and it is unclear what will happen if the deadline expires on Thursday. In the meantime, peace moves are being considered through highly respected religious figures. On Wednesday, the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, met with the military leaders in the Niger Republic. Sanusi, who is the Khalifa of the Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria, met the Junta leaders in the company of the Sultan of Damagaran. Damagaran is the third largest city in the Republic of Niger. Sources told Daily Trust that Sanusi went there to open the door for negotiation with the junta. One of the sources said: “His Highness took the trip in his personal capacity but with the knowledge of President Bola Tinubu following his concerns about the impasse and the likely consequences it is already having on Nigeria/Niger relations and the citizens of the two countries.”

Here are the names and details of the 21 persons that made the Niger Coup cabinet:

• Prime Minister: Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, Niger's foremost economist and official of the African Development Bank.
• Minister of Justice: Mohamed Bazoum, the ousted president.
• Minister of Defense: Colonel Assimi Goïta, the leader of the junta.
• Minister of Interior: Colonel Abdoulaye Daouda, a member of the junta.
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Hassoumi Massaoudou, a former foreign minister.
• Minister of Finance: Mamadou Diop, a former finance minister.
• Minister of Economy: Abdoulaye Abdoulaye, a former minister of economy.
• Minister of Trade: Ousseini Issoufou Mahamadou, a former minister of trade.
• Minister of Agriculture: Mohamed Bazoum, the ousted president.
• Minister of Energy and Petroleum: Oumarou Chika Adamou, a former minister of energy and petroleum.
• Minister of Water Resources: Lamido Moumouni Djermakoye, a former minister of water resources.
• Minister of Health: Idi Illiassou Mainassara, a former minister of health.
• Minister of Education: Oumarou Idani, a former minister of education.
• Minister of Youth and Sports: Issoufou Issaka, a member of the junta.
• Minister of Communication: Mohamed Ben Omar, a former minister of communication.
• Minister of Mines and Industry: Oumarou Mahamane Issoufou, a former minister of mines and industry.
• Minister of Culture: Abdoul Karim Harouna, a former minister of culture.
• Minister of Planning: Aminata Moumouni Diop, a former minister of planning.
• Minister of Social Development: Aïchatou Boulama Kané, a former minister of social development.
• Minister of Women's Affairs: Hadiza Bazoum, the wife of the ousted president.

It remains to be seen whether the junta will be able to consolidate its power or whether it will be forced to step down. The international community is watching closely, and it is clear that the junta will face significant pressure to restore democracy to Niger.