Niger's ruling military junta has sacked the West African country's eight regional governors and replaced them with soldiers.

The move announced late Wednesday tightens the junta's grip on power in the uranium-producing nation after it toppled former president Mamadou Tandja in a spectacular raid in the capital last month, pledging to wipe out corruption and hold elections.

"By decree of the head of state, junta leader Djibo Salou, Colonel Yaye Garba is named governor of the region of Agadez," a junta spokesman said on state radio, going on to announce the other new governors.

Tandja remains under house arrest in a villa in Niamey following the coup, though the junta has released most members of his government.

The international community is pressuring the junta for a swift transition to civilian rule, and has yet to reverse a series of sanctions imposed on the Tandja government.


Reuters