Niger - constitutional crisis

Ecowas to meet over Niger as protests continue

Article published on the 2010-02-15 Latest update 2010-02-15 18:30 TU

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

More than 10,000 anti-government protestors gathered in Niger’s capital on Sunday, calling on President Mamadou Tandja to scrap a constitutional reform that allows him to stay in office.

Tandja’s decision to proceed with a constitutional change that allowed him to stay in power after his term expired in December drew widespread criticism and international sanctions.

The crisis in Niger will be one of the topics for discussion at a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in Nigeria on Thursday.

The regional body has already suspended Niger’s membership over the issue.

“We hold Tandja responsible for the stalemate in negotiations initiated by Ecowas and we believe his attitude is dangerous for our country,” Mahamane Hamissou, a member of the Cfdr opposition group, told the rally.

Princeton Lyman, a former United States ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria, told RFI that those who took part in the protest should be praised for their actions.

“I don’t think they’re flogging a dead horse. I do think they need stronger support from the African Union and Ecowas for what they’re trying to do. But you have to commend the Nigeriens for continuing in this fight to sustain and return democracy to Niger.”

A member of the Council on Foreign Relations think tank, Lyman says he feels that Nigeria should be doing more to put pressure on Niger through Ecowas.

But he feels that since Nigeria has been preoccupied with its own presidential crisis, Ecowas is failing to provide adequate support to the local people in Niger.

“I think they’re just not exerting anywhere near the kind of influence they should be able to exert,” he says. “What you’d like to believe and hope is that these demonstrations will encourage the other African countries to do more.”