The official order to replace up the eight regional governors with military governors came today from the CSRD. This is no surprise: it was noted shortly after the coup that all official appearances were being done by the Commanders of each of the Zones de Defense, which match up to the Regions. I have not seen the offical list, but the reports of the Zinder and Agadez governors practical replacements were previously published here. The interesting announcement, Colonel Yaye Garba was named governor for Niamey, obviously an important post. Garba was a member of the 1996 junta, but not the 1999 transition, presumably due to personal or factional loyalty to Gen. Bare Mainassara, killed by the 1999 coup. His appointment demonstrates both the elite continuity and ecumenical openness of the regime. Also note, the actual work of governing has, since the coup, been in the hands of the General Secretaries of the regions, the highest ranking civil servants. Expect this to continue.
A Dakar based corespondent for Kenya's Nation paper reports says that Nigerien activists have set up camp at French government uranium miners AREVA's Niamey offices. There is as of yet no independent confirmation of this, or if they are occupying the offices. The name given in the report is "Areva ne fera pas la loi au Niger" ("Aveva is not the law of Niger") This same slogan is used by Tuareg activists of the Tchinaghen collective of Agadez, as well as French anti-neocolonial campaigners Suivre. Activists have long tried to draw attention to the horrible radioactive pollution, the awful working conditions, and the neocolonial exploitation of the huge open pit mines in the Arlit area of the Nigerien Sahara. These provide %40 of the fuel for France's nuclear power industry, upon which they are dependent for electricity. See http://www.tchinaghen.org/ http://areva.niger.free.fr/ http://www.survie-paris.org/
Olympique Football Club
Tazartché: Les bévues de Jules Ouguet sur Télé Dounia "un des animateurs de cette mafia locale, un vieux de la vieille, ancien locataire de la Communauté Urbaine où il a fait d’énormes dégâts, piètre gestionnaire de la Sonuci d’où il fut chassé après un séjour en prison, Jules Ouguet a repris du service pour faire la promotion du Tazartché qu’il trouve meilleur que la démocratie au nom de l’intérêt supérieur de la Nation, pardon du Président Tandja « envoyé par Dieu » selon ses propres termes."
On February 24, Jules Ouguet, Director General of the government-owned Nigerien City Planning and Construction Corporation, was arrested and jailed for embezzling $53,600 (24 million CFAF) from the company. Ouguet was released on March 21 after his family and friends paid back the money.
On November 1, the president of the Niamey City Council, Aboubacar Seydou Ganda, was arrested and jailed for embezzling $205,000 (92 million CFAF) and corruption in regards to public contracts. Five of his senior staff members were also arrested and all remained in jail at year's end. On November 19 and 20, an additional 12 businessmen were also arrested and jailed in connection with the case.
lundi 24 avril 2006 par Souleymane Maâzou
Depuis plus d’une décennie, des sortes de quartiers d’infortune se forment tout autour de la ville de Niamey, notamment le long et dans la ceinture verte, forêt artificielle créée en 1965 pour protéger la capitale des intempéries. Aujourd’hui, plusieurs centaines de familles vivant dans ces taudis sont menacées de déguerpissements par les autorités municipales.
"Former African Coach of year award winner, Coach Kadiri Ikhana may head to Niger Republic [to manage] Sahel FC. ... Ikhana was said to have demanded for a mouth-watering contract before he can sign for the club which is run by a business mogul.
It was gathered that the Club Administrator, Muhammad Rabiou who was among members of the entourage had promised that the Edo born tactician would be given a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, a Duplex and domestic Staff if he accepts the offer." Where would Sahel FC get that cash?
l'Opinion has this interesting article on the succession in Niger's ANDP-ZAMAN LAHIYA (Alliance Nigérienne pour la Démocratie et le Progrès) party. ANDP was a split from the ruling MNSD at the moment of democratization (1991), when Mamadou Tandja succeeded in winning the helm of MNSD. His main rival, also a former Colonel and close aide of Kountché, was Amadou Moumouni Djermakoye. He was son of the paramount leader of the Zarma, the Djermakoye of Dosso. Moumouni's uncle's line has since succeeded to the most powerful traditional office in Niger. ANDP became a minor regional party, but Moumouni remained influential far beyond its votes. He died at a rally against Tandja early this year, a major milestone in Niger. Possible successors: Ali Seyni Gado (Moumouni's nephew, I ASSUME of the royal line), Amadou Bagnou, and former MP Dan Dijé, (all of Dosso). From Tillabéri, politicians Amadou Nouhou and Moussa Issa (who's the best known). Regardless the party will decline further.
Rumours that those considered not loyal enough to Tandja are being driven out soon by true believers: targets are rumored to be Ali Badio Gamatié, Garba Lompo, Ousmane Samba Mamadou (minister of Ed) Aïchatou Mindaoudou.
Continued legal battles over succession in the Commune II Niamey section of the MNSD, intertwined with a conflict with the Commune V leadership. Those close to Tandja (Hadjia Rabi Hima Yankori, Adamou Alhéri, Issoufou Mounkaïla and Issoufou Tamboura (president of Commne V) being sued by older leadership that is sceptical of the 6th Republic. They are alleged (here) to be close to Seini Oumarou. The current defendants (ms. Yankori is former pres, who handed power current pres. Abdoulaye Morou) are liked to the pro Tandja militants drummed out of the party nationally in October: Abdourahamane Hima Annassara Dogari and Moussa Keita
CFDR protest in Niamey in lead up to December 22 end of Tandja's constitutional mandate, which he has unilaterally extended three years.
"Thousands of protesters on Sunday took to the streets of Niamey, Niger's capital, calling for the resignation of President Mamadou Tandja. Comprising youths and adults, the demonstrators carried placards with messages such as: "Tandja must go", "Down with the Destroyer of democracy." Calls were also made for former prime minister and opposition figure, Hama Amandou to take the president’s place, AFP reported."
Abdoulaye Tiemogo, editor of the weekly Le Canard Dechaine, was jailed mid-August. He was convicted of "casting discredit on a judicial ruling" following a comment he made on a private television on an international arrest warrant for exiled former prime minister Hama Amadou on corruption charges.
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