Niger: President Tandja Re-appoints Cabinet, Sets

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000609 DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - J MAYBURY PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM NG SUBJECT: Niger: President Tandja Re-appoints Cabinet, Sets National Assembly Election for October 20 Ref: a) Niamey 599, b) Niamey 479, c) Niamey 378, d) Niamey 357, e) 08 Niamey 960 ¶1. On August 19, President Tandja re-named the same 31 members to his new Cabinet following their August 18 resignations made in response to his promulgation of the new constitution (ref A). In his announcement, President Tandja re-appointed Prime Minister Seini Oumarou, Minister of State for the Interior, State Security, and Decentralization Albade Abouba, and the 29 line ministers. ¶2. On August 18, PM Oumarou presented the letter of resignation of his cabinet "in compliance with the formality required by the promulgation of a new constitution." Under the new constitution, "The President of the Republic is the exclusive holder of executive powers...He appoints the Prime Minister and the cabinet, and determines their functions...The Prime Minister and cabinet members report to him." ¶3. During the announcement, President Tandja also announced that the National Assembly election would be held on October 20 to replace the legislative body he dismissed on May 26 (ref C). In response, opposition political party representatives have threatened to reconstitute the previous National Assembly on the 90th day following its dismissal, as both the 1999 and the August 4 constitutions call for elections to replace dismissed National Assemblies within a 45 - 90 day window following their dissolution. ¶4. Comment: This represents the fourth action taken by President Tandja with respect to the Government of Niger's cabinet during the past year. On June 29, President Tandja replaced the eight Social Democratic Convention (CDS) ministers who resigned on June 25 (ref B). On May 14, President Tandja shuffled three ministerial chairs and appointed a new Minister of Justice (ref D); in January 2009, he named a new Minister of Environment and the Fight against Desertification; and in September 2008 he appointed a new Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (ref E). End comment. ALLEN