Update on Niger's Political Situation

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000527

DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI NG
SUBJECT: Update on Niger's Political Situation

Ref: a) Niamey 00521, b) Niamey 00479

NIAMEY 00000527 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: Political tensions remain, with anti-Tazarcists
breaking up a civil society conference for the public in Zinder;
organizers, however, vow to continue their campaign against the
August 4 referendum. The Nigerian Party for Democracy and Socialism
(PNDS),the nation's main opposition party, held its fifth
convention, at which the party re-elected Mahamadou Issoufou as its
president and continued its criticism of President Tandja's plan to
hold a referendum to extend his term in office. Issoufou castigated
the use of spoils from the uranium sector and announced the
formation of a new opposition consortium, the "Coordination of
Forces for Democracy and Republic." Meanwhile, the Social
Democratic Convention (CDS) and the Nigerien Alliance for Democracy
and Progress (ANDP) announced the withdrawal of their political
appointees in regions, districts, and administrative posts.
Compliance with this decision, however, remains to be seen. End
summary.

Anti-Tazarce Activists Face Intolerance in Zinder
-------------- --------------

2. (SBU) On July 17, the United Front for the Safeguarding of
Democratic Gains (FUSAD),an umbrella group of civil society
organizations opposed to the Tazarce plan, visited the city of
Zinder to hold a public conference on the stakes of the president's
referendum project. According to media reports, when the conference
was about to start, a group of youth swarmed the auditorium shouting
Tazarce slogans to intimidate the audience and conference
organizers. As a consequence, the conference was delayed. The
leader of the youth who disrupted the conference said, "These people
came to discredit the government and to flout the institutions of
the Republic. We will not allow that. We support the president.
Zinder supports Tazarce." In a subsequent press conference, Marou
Amadou, leader of FUSAD, accused regional GON officials of fomenting
the attack and said that his organization would lodge a complaint.
Political observers in Zinder advised EMBASSY staff that a local
businessman supporting Tazarce had sent hooligans from his home
village of Koleram to disturb the conference.

Fifth PNDS Convention: A Vow to Fight for Democracy
-------------- --------------

3. (SBU) On July 18, the Nigerian Party for Democracy and Socialism
(PNDS),Niger's main opposition party, held its fifth convention to
overhaul the party's bylaws, renew its leadership, and determine new
policies. The convention re-elected Mahamadou Issoufou as the
party's leader. During his opening remarks, Issoufou raised several
issues relating to Niger's current political situation. Excerpts
follow:


A. "The fifth convention opens in a context of political crisis the
only cause of which is the defense of personal interests to the
detriment of the common interest. Today, those who want to assess
the disastrous effects on a country of greed, selfishness, and a
lack of scruples, to the service of megalomania - let them visit
Mamadou Tandja's Niger."


B. "In fact, while our country has experienced ten years of
stability, the latter, democratically elected twice, has decided to
stage a coup d'etat to remain in power under the fallacious pretext
of not having found a Nigerien worthy of succeeding him and capable
to complete his so-called construction projects."


C. "Corruption has plagued the uranium sector, where the allocation
of exploration permits was used by some well identified individuals
who pocketed well known commissions... the marketing of uranium
constitutes another evidence of the business fever that caught the
regime...corruption...has (also) pervaded all sectors of public
service, from the messenger to the minister. Venality hits all
public acts."


D. Citing several violations of the constitution by President
Tandja, Issoufou praised the creation of a new "Coordination of
Forces for Democracy and Republic" - (CFDR),and asserted the PNDS'
resolve to defend democratic principles. He stated that "Mr. Tandja
is solely responsible for the twofold economic and political crisis
in which our country will find itself. That is why we are
determined to oppose his coup d'etat; we are determined to prevent
his illegal referendum of August 4, by virtue of Articles 13, 29,
and 115 of the Constitution."

CDS, ANDP Withdraw More Members from Government

NIAMEY 00000527 002.2 OF 002


-------------- --

4. (SBU) On July 19, the Social Democratic Convention (CDS) and the
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP) made a joint
statement in which they announced the withdrawal of all governors,
prefets (district administrator),and "chef de poste" (local
administrator) from government. The two parties said they did not
want their members to continue supporting the campaign for a
referendum the FDD decided to boycott (ref A). CDS has two
governors (Agadez and Maradi) and several prefets and chefs de
poste; ANDP has one governor (Diffa) and several district level
officials. This decision follows the dismissal of three ANDP
ministers from the cabinet on May 14, and the CDS decision to
withdraw eight of its ministers from government (ref B).

Comment
--------------

5. (SBU) It remains to be seen if governors Abba Malam Boukar
(Agadez) and Oumarou Yacouba (Diffa) will resign from their
positions. The former comes from the same region as President
Tandja (Diffa),while the latter has been governor of Diffa for
several years. There were also rumors that governors throughout the
country had received substantial amounts of money to stage "popular
support" for President Tandja, run the referendum campaign, and
serve as a "personal incentive." In addition, these two regions
have large ongoing mining projects (uranium and oil). End comment.

ALLEN