Tens of Thousands Protest Against Niger Government

Niger protests on December 28, 2013 against the policies of the neo-colonial regime of Mahamadou Issoufou. The protests called for better wages and living conditions., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Tens of thousands protest against Niger government

Reuters, Saturday 28 Dec 2013

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters staged a protest rally on Saturday against what they said was the failure of President Mahamadou Issoufou to improve living standards in Niger, one of the world's poorest countries.

The rally, in the capital Niamey, was the largest in Niger since pro-democracy protests against then-President Mamadou Tandja that helped to block his bid to serve a third term and ushered in a military coup that toppled him in February 2010.

It was the first public show of strength by the Alliance for the Republic, Democracy and Reconciliation in Niger (ARDR), a coalition of 15 opposition parties formed in October. Last month, a court lifted a government ban on opposition marches.

Police said some 20,000 people took part in Saturday's rally, while organisers put the figure at 30,000.

"Mahamadou Issoufou promised an end to food insecurity but the population continues to be decimated by hunger and thirst," said Amadou Hama, president of the National Assembly whose Nigerien Democratic Movement (MODEN) broke away from the ruling coalition this year.

The ARDR was formed in response to the creation of a national unity government by Issoufou, including breakaway members of MODEN and former president Tandja's National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD).

Hama and MNSD leader Oumarou Seyni are regarded as the main challengers to Issoufou for the 2016 presidential election.

Niger, with a fast-growing population of 17 million people, has some of the lowest government revenues per capita in Africa despite the start of oil production in 2011. Output is running at around 16,500 barrels a day, the IMF said in September.

Niger, the world's fourth largest uranium producer, is also seeking to renegotiate long-term mining contracts with French nuclear power firm Areva to increase tax revenues.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/90268.aspx


Nigeriens rally against low living standards

Sun Dec 29, 2013 12:2AM GMT
presstv.ir

Nigeriens have staged a mass demonstration to protest the government’s failure to improve living standards in the deeply impoverished nation.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Niamey on Saturday in response to a call from the Alliance for the Republic, Democracy and Reconciliation in Niger (ARDR), and gathered in front of the parliament building in the capital city.

Police said some 20,000 people took part in the rally, viewed as the first public flex of muscles by ARDR, which is a coalition of 15 opposition parties. The organizers, however, put the number at 30,000.

President "Mahamadou Issoufou promised an end to food insecurity but the population continues to be decimated by hunger and thirst," said Amadou Hama, the president of the National Assembly whose Nigerien Democratic Movement (MODEN) quitted the ruling coalition this year.

The ARDR was formed in October in response to the creation of a national unity government by Issoufou, including breakaway members of MODEN and former President Mamadou Tandja's National Movement for the Development of Society.

The Saturday rally was the largest in Niger since anti-Tandja protests that helped to block his bid to serve a third term and paved the way for a military coup that toppled him in February 2010.

Niger, home to 17 million people, started oil production in 2011 and stands as the world's fourth largest uranium producer.

Nevertheless, the country has some of the lowest government revenues per capita in Africa.