Niger: The Advisory Council of Refoundation assumes its duties, in the absence of an elected National Assembly
They are 194 in total. Civilians and military personnel, men and women, appointed by the eight regions of Niger or directly nominated by the authorities in power. This Saturday, they officially assumed their duties at a ceremony broadcast live on public television. They form the Consultative Council of Refoundation (CCR), a body created by transitional president General Abdourahamane Tiani’s decree in April 2025.
Headed by Mamoudou Dingarey, a former senior UN official, the CCR is tasked with supporting the ongoing transition in a Niger governed by the military since the coup d’état of July 2023. In effect, it replaces the National Assembly, which was dissolved in the aftermath of the power grab by the coup plotters.
The Council does not have legislative power, but it is responsible for providing opinions and making recommendations on the major national directions. Its creation comes under the Refoundation Charter, a document adopted to oversee the political transition in Niger.
“Refounding a country is a challenging endeavor, sometimes curious, but always crowned with success for resilient peoples,” said Mamoudou Dingarey at the opening session, calling on council members to act “in the nation’s supreme interest”.
The context is marked by significant security challenges characterized by persistent jihadist attacks, cross-border crime, diplomatic isolation following the break with France, and West African sanctions. In this climate, the CCR appears as an attempt at institutional structuring to justify and support the transition process.
The installation ceremony was marked by the presence of representatives from neighboring countries that have also experienced coups d’état: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. All maintain close relations with Niamey. Niger, Mali, and Burkina even formed the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) in 2024, intended to coordinate their security and institutional policies outside of the ECOWAS framework.
According to the authorities, the new advisory chambers of the three countries are set to meet soon for a joint session in Burkina Faso. This unprecedented initiative in the sub-region raises as many questions as it does concerns.
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