Niger/France

France condemns Niger President's emergency powers

Article published on the 2009-07-02 Latest update 2009-07-02 12:16 TU

Niger's President Mamadou Tandja.
(Photo: AFP)

France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the situation in Niger is "dangerous", following President Mammadou Tandja's decision to dissolve the parliament and Constitutional Court.

Both institutions rejected Tandja's plans to hold a referendum on a proposal to allow him to stand for a third term as president and a strike Wednesday opposed the move. 

"France, as others in Africa, asserts that it is necessary to respect and return to the constitutional order," Kouchner said during a short visit to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on Wednesday. 

Mamadou Tandja, a 71-year-old retired army colonel whose legal term limit ends in December, has also claimed emergency powers, which he said were necessary to protect the independence of the arid and landlocked west African nation.

The organisation of French-speaking countries has also condemned Tandja's bid to stay in office.

A statement by former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf, who heads the International Francophone Organisation (OIF), warned that "attempts to revise the constitution by referendum, despite warnings from many players -- in particular by the Constitutional Court of Niger , whose operations have been seriously curtailed -- has created the conditions for a crisis."

The White House also voiced concern on Wednesday. A statement  accused him of "undermining Niger's efforts over the last ten years to advance good governance and the rule of law".

Washington says it will "monitor the situation in Niger closely" and backs a mission by the African Union to Niger to find a solution to the political crisis.