VZCZCXRO1831
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #1112/01 2400940
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280940Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3744
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0589
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 001112 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/W FOR T. AYBAR, DS/IP/AF, CA/OCS 
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC MARR CASC PINR NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: TANDJA DECLARES "STATE OF ALERT" IN AGADEZ 
 
REF: NIAMEY 1055 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. On August 24, President Tandja declared a "State of Alert" for 
three months in the Agadez region plagued by armed conflict between 
the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) and government forces. Prime 
Minister Seini Oumarou undertook a regional diplomatic outreach to 
seek regional support in resolving the crisis. While the "State of 
Alert" is provided by law, the local population, the civil society, 
and NGOs seem skeptical about its justification. 
 
The "State of Alert" 
------------------- 
 
¶2. Niger's constitution (articles 53, 54 and 86) allows the 
President to take exceptional measures in circumstances such as 
serious threat to national territorial integrity, the execution of 
its international obligations, and the normal operation of public 
service. The state of alert is the first stage of these measures - 
ranging from "State of Alert" to state of emergency to martial law 
depending on the gravity of the situation. 
 
¶3. The "State of Alert" aims at taking "certain appropriate measures 
to ensure the government's freedom of action, to reduce the 
vulnerability of the population or major installations, and to 
guarantee the security of military forces' mobilization and 
implementation operations." Under this law, people can be arrested, 
questioned and detained without time limit. The government may 
requisition persons, services, and property for the purpose of the 
state of alert. 
 
First responses to the "State of Alert" 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. The Agadez population and Niger's civil society in general have 
expressed concern over the GON's decision, as it gives extended 
powers to the military. They felt that the military may use it to 
infringe on public liberties and possibly commit other blunders. For 
example, since the announcement of this decision, there were reports 
that security forces arrested several people in Agadez and Arlit. 
The Libyan Consul in Agadez was briefly arrested then expelled from 
the country over the weekend. This alert will also limit 
donor-funded project activities in the region, to the detriment of 
an already desperate and vulnerable population. 
 
The MNJ's response 
------------------ 
 
¶5. In an interview with Radio France International (RFI), Mohamed 
Acharif, the MNJ's vice-president, said that the GON's measures 
would not deter his movement. He stated that the MNJ's action would 
not be limited to Agadez alone, but it could hit other locations in 
Niger. 
 
¶6. The MNJ's website reported on August 27 that the army killed 
seven civilians near Gougaram, "in retaliation to the death of 
several soldiers during previous skirmishes." The site also reported 
the arrest of seven other people in Agadez and Arlit. In response to 
the purported deaths and arrests the MNJ declared "an eye for an 
eye, a tooth for a tooth." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. Observers say that the President's decision comes as a response 
to the recommendations made on August 11, by a forum on the 
situation in northern Niger which gathered civil society groups, 
academics, religious leaders, traditional chiefs, and other think 
tanks. The forum recommended that the GON recognize the MNJ as a 
rebel movement and use existing conflict resolution mechanisms to 
work toward a peaceful settlement. In a letter to the Minister of 
Interior, the Collective for the Defense of Human Rights and 
Democracy, an umbrella group of twenty human rights associations, 
offered to visit northern Niger in order to engage mediation with 
the MNJ. 
 
¶8. Also, by declaring a "State of Alert" then immediately sending 
his Prime Minister to seek support from Sudan and Libya, President 
Tandja uses the carrot and stick approach. This falls in line with 
his Independence Day address to the nation on August 2, in which he 
said, "we should act candidly, in respect of the friendly and 
profitable relations with our traditional partners and those who 
show interest in our country" while opting for firmness by stating 
that he would "preserve our territorial integrity and carry a 
 
NIAMEY 00001112  002 OF 002 
 
 
relentless fight against those who have chosen to take arms in this 
country". 
 
¶9. While raising human rights concerns, the President's "State of 
Alert" declaration may fuel more accusations in the MNJ's propaganda 
campaign. The effectiveness of the President's new strategy remains 
to be seen. END COMMENT. 
 
ALLEN