Niger Political Coverage

The Fifth Republic

• Niger Parliament Grants Amnesty To Putschists(PANA, January 7, 2000) "Members of parliament in Niger have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a bill granting amnesty to the perpetrators of coups d'etat of 27 January, 1996 and 9 April, 1999 in the country."
• No pay for Niger Members of Parliament (BBC, January 3, 2000)
• Wanke Sued For Economic Crimes (PANA, January 3, 2000) "Niger's Human Rights League president, El Hadji Bangnou Bonkoukou, has decided to sue former President Daouda Malam Wanke, whom he accuses of having committed economic crimes."
• Niger Prime Minister Sworn In (PANA, January 3, 200) "Niger's new prime minister, Hama Amadou, was sworn in Monday before the national assembly."
• Amnesty for coup plotters in Niger(BBC, December 31, 1999)"There's been a demonstration outside the national assembly in Niger, in protest at plans to grant an amnesty to people who have participated in coups."
• Anti-corruption Panel Recovers 3.5 Billion CFA Francs (PANA, December 30, 1999) "The national commission investigating economic and financial crimes in Niger Wednesday announced that it has recovered 3.5 billion CFA francs."
• Ex-President Ousmane Elected Speaker (PANA, December 30, 1999) "The former president of Niger, Mahamane Ousmane, was Wednesday elected Speaker of the National Assembly for the next five years."
• Mamadou Declares Thousand Heads Of Cattle As Assets (PANA, December 29, 1999)"Niger's new president, Mamadou Tandja, is a wealthy cattle-herder who has confirmed owning over one 1,000 heads of cattle during a declaration of assets before the State Court in Niamey, as required by the constitution."
• Niger's National Assembly Inaugurated (PANA, December 26, 1999) "The chairman of Niger's independent national electoral commission, Issaka Sounna, has urged the 83 members of parliament elected on 24 November to demonstrate that they deserved the people's trust. "
• NIGER: Tandja sworn in as president (IRIN December 22, 1999) - "Mamadou Tandja, 61, sworn in on Wednesday as president of Niger after nine months of military rule, promised to work to improve the condition of workers and respect the principles of democracy, the BBC reported."
• Fin de régime militaire au Niger: le président Tandja a prêté serment par Boureïma HAMA "(AFP 22 déc ) - Après plus de 8 mois de régime militaire au Niger, le président démocratiquement élu Mamadou Tandja a été officiellement investi pour un mandat de 5 ans, mercredi lors d'une cérémonie au Palais des sports de Niamey."
• Court Validates Parliamentary Poll Results (December 16, 1999) Niamey, Niger (PANA) - "The State Court, Niger's highest jurisdiction, Thursday validated the results of the 24 November parliamentary election, in which the National Movement for the Development Society and the Democratic and Social Convention, two parties allied to the president's party, received a comfortable majority of seats."
• Widow Of Assassinated President Wants Killers Tried (AANA, December 13, 1999) - "Clemence Aissa Mainassara, widow of assassinated Niger President Ibrahim Mainassara, has again filed a law suit to bring her husband's murderers to justice. Her first case was dropped on account of amnesty provisions in Niger's Constitution".
• U.S. Congratulates Niger on Elections (PANA, December 1, 1999) Washington, D.C. - "The United States government congratulates the people of Niger on the well-organized and peaceful conduct of the November 24 Presidential and National Assembly elections. These elections are an essential step in Niger's return to democratic government."
• Francophone Group Resumes co-operation With Niger (PANA, December 1, 1999) Paris, France - "Ministers of the group of mainly French speaking countries otherwise known as the Francophonie wrapped up their meetings Tuesday in Paris with the adoption of a resolution re-establishing co-operation with Niger suspended in the aftermath of the April coup d'etat which killed President Ibrahim Barre Mainassara."

A New President for Niger

"Mamadou Tanja, 62, running on the Mouvement National de la Societe de Developpement (MNSD) ticket, is a former army colonel who took part in the coup that ousted President Hamani Diori in 1974 and brought Seyni Kountche to power. Tanja then served on Kountche's Supreme Military Council that ran the country. Later he became the prefect at the Region of Tahoua, and served as ambassador to Nigeria. He gained his reputation for hard work and toughness as minister of the interior."(PANA)

• Retired army officer wins Niger election (BBC, November 28, 1999)
  "The former army officer, Mamadou Tandja, who's just won the presidential election in Niger, has pledged to work with the opposition....Mr Tandja took around sixty per cent of the vote in an election intended to return Niger to civilian rule."
• Coalition Wins Majority In Parliament (PANA, November 28, 1999)- "The Nations Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) and its partner the Democratic and Social Convention (CDS) have won a two-thirds majority of 55 out of the 83 seats in the future parliament of Niger....[T]he other coalition formed by the Nigerien Party for Democacy and Socialism (PNDS) and the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) collected the other 28 seats."
• A New President for Niger (BBC, November 27, 1999)
• Focus on the presidential candidates (IRIN, November 24, 1999) "Few bets have been placed on the likely winner of Niger's second round presidential elections which begin on Wednesday because some analysts say few differences emerged between the two candidates, Mamadou Tanja and Mahamadou Issoufou, during the campaign."
• Over 4 Million Niger Citizens Cast Ballots (PANA, November 24, 1999) "Some 4,587,684 citizens of Niger have been voting since Wednesday morning to elect a new president and 83 representatives to form the country's national assembly."

Toward Runoff and Parliamentary Elections

• 16 Parties Rally Around Mamadou Tanja (PANA, November 6, 1999) "Niamey, Niger - Sixteen political parties in Niger have decided to support the candidate of the National Movement for the Society of Development, Mamadou Tanja, in the second round of the presidential election to be held 24 November."
• Rivals To Square Off In Niger's Preliminary Presidential Poll (AANA, November 4, 1999) NIAMEY - "Niger's two political giants are poised for a major battle in the country's second round presidential poll later this month, seen as a crucial move to restore fragile democracy to the impoverished west African nation."
• NIGER: Focus on post-election challenges (IRIN, October 20, 1999) "...[T]he incoming civilian leaders in Niger needed to seek moral support from Nigeria’s civilian government in ensuring that the military are kept at bay."
• NIGER: Tanja, Issoufou head for run-off elections (IRIN, October 20, 1999) Niger’s two leading presidential candidates, Mamadou Tanja and Mohammadou Issoufou, will clash again in a run-off poll due on 24 November, news organisations reported, quoting the state electoral commission.
• Mamadou Tandja and Mahamadou Issoufou in Run-off (Kakaki, October 19, 1999)

Presidential Election Results

Mamadou Tandja & Mahamadou Issoufou Likely Candidates for November 24 Runoff

With election results nearly complete, it appears that Mahamadou Issoufou has edged out Mahamane Ousmane for the second spot on the November 24 runoff round of Niger's presidential elections. Mamadou Tandja enjoyed a decisive first place showing. Other candidates and their order of finish were Hamid Algabid, Moumouni Djermakoye Adamou, André Salifou and Amadou Ali Djibo.

The turnout of more than 43% was higher than anticipated and more than a third greater than the participation rate in the February 1999 local elections. All indications from sources within Niger, from the Commission Electoral Nationale Indepéndante (CENI) and from the team of international observers is that the election was transparent and that the country remains calm.

The Board of Directors of Friends of Niger extends its congratulations to the Nigerien people, to all the candidates and to CENI.

For complete election coverage - as well as a wealth of background information - go to - http://users.idworld.net/jmayer/kakaki/ - site for Kakaki: News of Niger.

For complete election results - by candidate and by region - go to the CENI site - - http://www.delgi.ne/ceni/tour1/index.html.

For continued coverage of political developments in Niger, visit this site on a regular basis.

Elections October 17, 1999

• Tandja Mamadou and Mahamadou Issoufou in Run-off (Kakaki, October 19, 1999)
• Tanja Mamadou Leads Presidential Polls (PANA, October 17, 1999) Niamey, Niger - "...[A]ll signs indicated no clear winner will emerge and a second ballot will have to be held 24 November."
• Niger Military Restates Commitment To Democracy (PANA, October 17, 1999)
• Presidential Elections Open In Niger (PANA, October 17, 1999)
• Niger Constitution For Balance Of Power (PANA, October 17, 1999) -- 'The constitution, which marks the advent of the Fifth Republic, provides for "the balance of power between the executive and the legislature", and in principle, it should make "stable and perennial" the country's future institutions.'

Toward Elections 1999

• Niger Voters To Elect President Sunday (PANA, October 15, 1999)
• Thousands of state workers on strike (IRIN, October 14, 1999)
• Opposition leader freed (IRIN, October 11, 1999) Abidjan - "Opposition party leader Issoufou Bachar, head of the Alliance nigerienne pour la democratie et le progres, was freed Monday after three days in detention, news sources in Niamey told IRIN."
• All Set For Elections In Niger (PANA, October 7, 1999) - "...[E]verything [is] now in place for the 17 October elections."
• Soldiers stage brief mutiny (PANA, October 7, 1999)
• Public Aid For Development Is At 50-Year Low In Niger (PANA, October 1, 1999)
• Seven Presidential Candidates Promise To Save Niger (PANA, September 30, 1999)
• Niger Gets EU Election Funding (PANA, September 18, 1999) - "The chairman of Niger's Independent National Electoral Commission, Issaka Sounna, said the EU would contribute 533 million cfa francs for the holding of the second round of the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in the country."
• Niger Gets EU Humanitarian Aid (PANA, September 2, 1999) - "The European Union has given Niger 285,000 euro worth of humanitarian aid destined for people in the northern part of the country who are still suffering from the effects of six years of Tuareg rebellion that ended in 1997. "
• US Amb.-Desig. to Niger Owens-Kirkpatrick Testifies to Senate (PANA, August 9, 1999)
• Niger Needs 4.11 Billion Francs (US$8 million)For Elections (PANA, June 14, 1999)
  "...the constitutional referendum is scheduled for 11 July, the first round for the presidential balloting slated 3 October, while 14 November is the date for the second round and general elections."
• Niger's junta sets dates for double-barreled elections (AP, June 13, 1999)
• Neighbors urge Niger to probe president's death (Reuters, May 25, 1999) [Dead Link]
• Niger To Restore Democracy After April Coup (PANA, May 21, 1999)
• Niger announces austerity measures as aid dries up
  (Reuters, May 9, 1999) --"The government of Niger has announced budget cuts following the suspension of aid programmes by major donors after the military takeover on April 9."
• Niger's junta orders military out of election(Reuters)[dead link]
• Wanke Names New Cabinet(IRIN)

Coup d'Etat 1999

• Murder Of Nigerien President The Inside Story (The Independent, Accra, June 22, 1999)
• Internal Accord, Foreign Condemnation(Kakaki)
• Coup Aftermath Continuing (IRIN)
• Niger's military junta pledges elections (BBC)
• Senegal Grants Asylum to Mainassara Family(Kakaki)
• New military leader for Niger(BBC)
  "The commander of Niger's presidential guard, Daouda Mallam Wanke, has been appointed interim head of state following the assasination of Niger's President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara." [BBC]
• About Major Wanke (PANA)
• Confusion Still Prevails In Niger(PANA)
• Ecowas Condemns Mainassara's Assassination(PANA)
• President Mainassara Said to be Assassinated(AP)
• Coup In Progress(AP)

Recorded History

• History Brief
• History (Unesco)