Niger referendum

Clashes reported during referendum vote

Article published on the 2009-08-05 Latest update 2009-08-05 06:39 TU

An official pro-referendum poster in Niamey, Niger on 1 August, 2009 (L) and a Nigerien opposition rally in the Cote d'Ivoire, 12 July 2009.
(Photos : AFP / Montage : RFI)

Protestors clashed with police on Tuesday as Niger held a constitutional referendum to determine whether President Mamadou Tandja could extend his stay in power.

Police reportedly fired tear gas at demonstrators who tried to block two polling stations in Illela in the western Tahoua region.

Further clashes were said to have taken place in two other parts of Tahoua. The region is a stronghold of Mamadou Issoufou, a prominent critic of Tandja.

The opposition Alliance for Democracy and Progress said several protestors were arrested in Dosso in the southwest of the country. Interior Minister Albade Abouba confirmed on local radio that some arrests had been made.

The controversial referendum is designed to determine whether Tandja, who has been in power since 1999 and is due to step down in December, could be allowed to rule indefinitely.

Polling stations closed at 7 pm local time on Tuesday amid reports of a high rate of abstention. The opposition called for a boycott of the vote but Tandja had hoped for a 75 per cent turnout.

“I am fully satisfied that I have done my duty as president of the republic in the face of the demands of the people of Niger," he told reporters in Niamey as he cast his vote. "It's a great day - our wish has been fulfilled.”

The poll has been criticised both inside Niger and abroad after the 71-year-old former colonel defied parliament and the constitutional court.

Corinne Dufka, senior researcher for West Africa at Human Rights Watch, said the current unrest came at a time when it looked like the country was making progress.

“Niger really has been at a point of taking off economically and, prior to this problem, even democratically,” Dufka told RFI. “There had been a number of very promising things that had been happening in that country so that is why we view the events of this spring and then this referendum as extremely disappointing and really as a very serious step backwards.”

Dufka said that the country - rich in mineral resources such as uranium gold and oil - now appeared willing to alienate its former development partners from abroad.

“I think they’re in a stronger position economically than they were a few years ago to be able to weather any kind of economic sanctions. So unfortunately that kind of leverage that the international community might have been able to exert has been minimized.”

Results of the poll are expected to be available within five days.