Niger's junta gathered thousands of people in the capital Niamey on Friday to celebrate the first anniversary of its coup. "On July 26, 2023, the leadership of all the units of our army under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani set the people of Niger on the road to regaining their sovereignty and true independence," Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said. Junta chief Abdourahamane Tiani arrived to the beats of a traditional drum to greet attendees, but did not address the crowd. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES