Salou Djibo (born 15 April 1965"Le Commandant Salou Djibo, patron du CSRD, la junte qui dirige le Niger....", African Press Agency, 20 February 2010 .) is a Nigerien Army officer. After President Mamadou Tandja's attempts to remain in power beyond his term, Djibo led the military coup of 18 February 2010 that ousted Tandja, after which he became the head of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy. "Un Conseil militaire prend le pouvoir au Niger", Radio France International, February 19, 2010 "Niger : le chef d'escadron Salou Djibo, "président" du CSRD" , Agence France Presse, February 19, 2010"Niger junta names leader after coup", UK Press Association, February 19, 2010 The Supreme Council returned power to a new civil government after the 2011 elections.
Early and family life Salou Djibo was born in 1965 in Namaro, a village and rural commune in Niger close to the River Niger. He is of Zarma ancestry. Djibo is married to Fati Alzouma Djobo Salou and has five children.
Military career In 1995, Djibo underwent military training in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, before commencing officer training in 1996. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1997 and gained further promotions to lieutenant in 1998, captain in 2003 and chef d'escadron (major) in October 2006. Djibo has also received training in Morocco and China. "Retour au calme au Niger au lendemain du coup d'Etat", Le Point/Reuters, February 19, 2010
Amongst Djibo's several posts, he was an instructor at the Agadez military center, platoon commander, commandant, 121 Compagnie de Commandement d'Appui et des Services, and commander of the garrison at Niger's capital Niamey.
Djibo served in United Nations peacekeeping forces in Côte d'Ivoire (2004) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2006).
2010 coup His military government announced its intentions to make Niger "a model of democracy and good governance.""Military coup ousts Niger president Mamadou Tandja", British Broadcasting Corporation, February 19, 2010
Presidential campaign Djibo announced that he would be running as a candidate in the 2020 Nigerien presidential election.
See also 1974 Nigerien coup d'état 1996 Nigerien coup d'état 1999 Nigerien coup d'état 2009–10 Nigerien constitutional crisis 2010 Nigerien coup d'état Mahamadou Danda Mamadou Tandja Seyni Oumarou
References
External links Address by Lieutenant-General Salou Djibo, President of the Supreme Council for Restoration of Democracy, at the 65th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, September 23, 2010 (video, dubbed in English)