NIGER: REPORTS OF CLASHES IN DOSSO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000406 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/WA ACCRA FOR USAID/WA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI NG SUBJECT: NIGER: REPORTS OF CLASHES IN DOSSO REF: NIAMEY 377 Classified By: AMBASSADOR BERNADETTE M. ALLEN, REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) Summary: On June 1, Embassy received reports of a clash in Dosso between groups for and against President Tandja's call for a referendum on a new constitution. A couple of Embassy contacts, including a nongovernmental organization (NGO) employee, reported large civil disturbances in Dosso, Niger's Zarma (ethnic group) center. The NGO stated that tires were burned and locals were staying in their homes. Ambassador Allen placed a call to the Governor of Dosso, who affirmed the reports, alleging that a group of "over-excited" youth had disrupted a peaceful meeting of women and youth in support of President Tandja,s constitutional referendum. The Governor added that anti-tazarce supporters were to blame. (Note: In Hausa language "tazarche" means "let it continue." End note.) According to both accounts, the national police were called in and the situation was eventually brought under control. Clashing Between Pro-Tazarcists and Anti-Tazarcists -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Ambassador Allen called the governor of Dosso to inquire about the situation. According to the Governor, a group of women and youth were holding a meeting in support of President Tandja,s referendum, when an alleged group of "over-excited" youth affiliated with the FDD (Forces de Defence de Democratie) (ref a) arrived with stones, bottles, and machetes. The group was asked to leave the meeting, but later returned hurling rocks and bottles. The Governor added that the group of youth cut several electric lines, ransacked the Prefet,s office, and damaged the faade of the Governor,s compound as well as part of the Chef de Canton's (a traditional leader) palace. He also mentioned that the group burned several government vehicles and motorcycles. The Governor stated that there were no civilian injuries, but that some of the security personnel were injured by youth throwing stones. He declared that the situation was back to normal and that the group accomplished its goal of getting the attention of the international community. Governor Places Blame on FDD -------------- ¶3. (C) The Governor of Dosso was quick to blame a new political party consortium, FDD, for inciting today,s incident. FDD announced on May 25, its plans to conduct an "anti-Tazartche" (Note: Hausa for "Let it continue." End note.) The caravan seeks to drum up public awareness and sentiment against President Tandja's plan to have a referendum to draft a new constitution without presidential term limits. The Governor added that today,s incident is the type of action that the FDD called for its supporters to undertake. GON Provoke Incident in Dosso? -------------- ¶4. (C) Embassy does not know whether the incident in Dosso was purposefully provoked by the GON to provide justification to declare martial law. Given that the event in Dosso was short-lived and was an isolated case, it would be premature to accuse the GON of playing any such role. If there were a larger trend of clashes across the country, the GON would then have grounds to declare martial law. (Note: GON has not declared martial law during the course of the two-year MNJ insurgency in the North, it only went as far as a "state of alert" in one region, Agadez. End note.) Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Despite the Govenor,s account of the incident in Dosso, it is only speculation that FDD played a role in spurring the reported actions of the youth. The FDD party was scheduled to NIAMEY 00000406 002 OF 002 hold a large "anti-tazarce" rally on June 1, in a separate part of the country. Embassy will report any new developments. End Comment. ¶5. (U) Minimize considered. ALLEN