Backgrounder: Nigerien junta leader Salou Djibo

NIAMEY, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Salou Djibo, who was designated as the head of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, led Thursday's military coup and toppled President Mamadou Tandja. The following is the background information of the junta leader:

Djibo was born in 1965 at Namaro, a locality situated 40 km from the capital Niamey and bordering the River Niger.

In 1995, Djibo underwent training in Bouake, Cote d'lvoire. He also received military training in Morocco. Having achieved the rank of officer cadet in 1996, he was promoted to the position of sub-lieutenant in 1997. He became lieutenant in 1998, captain in 2003 and head of a military squad in Oct 2006.

As the squad leader, Djibo had several military functions within the Nigerien Military Forces (FAN).

He was an instructor at the Agadez military center, head of a military platoon, an interim commander of the 121 CCAS and the commander of 121 CCAS.

He equally participated in several missions abroad, especially Cote d'lvoire in 2004 and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006. He has been bestowed with the order of merit of Niger and honored by the United Nations.

Djibo is married and a father of five children.