Niger Coup

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61H4VB20100218

The Nigerian military has seized power and formed a new government called the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD).

myp said:

Certainly a huge event for the people of that nation. I am not too familiar with Nigerian politics, so I don't really have much to say, although I will probably read more about the happenings soon and probably respond again.

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The deposed president came to power about a decade ago via a military coup and has slowly amended the constitution to the point that he was a borderline dictator. His last act was to abolish term limits as well as extend the length of a term so as to stay in power 3 more years without an election. With his pervious actions combined with this last act, the military came to the conclusion that the president wasn't going to hold a free election... or an election at all. As a result, some colonel led a coup. The old gov't instantly collapsed, the rest of the military fell in line and the people supported the coup. Result? An almost bloodless coup and hope that it's claims of being democratic are true.