VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #1270/01 2831554
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101554Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3837
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0602

UNCLAS NIAMEY 001270 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W DENNISON, PARIS FOR AF WATCHER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: In News from Abroad GON President Tandja Rules Out 
Third Term, Invites Mouvement des Nigeriens Pour La Justice (MNJ) to 
Lay Down Arms 
 
 
REF: A) Niamey 1237 (NOTAL)   B) Niamey 1220 and previous 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  Local newspapers have reported and are commenting 
on excerpts of Government of Niger (GON) President Mamadou Tandja's 
October 2 interview with "Le Monde".  In that interview Tandja rules 
out running for a third term and invites combatants in northern 
Niger to lay down their arms.  He also addressed a question of 
whether the U.S. is planning to build a military base in Niger and 
emphasized Niger's need to take advantage of the recent hike in the 
price of uranium.  Some local commentary noted that a foreign 
journal abroad was granted the interview, as opposed to granting 
equal opportunity to local media in Niger.    End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The October 9 publications of several local newspapers "Le 
Canard Dechaine", "L'Enqueteur", "L'Evenement" and "La Griffe" 
reported on GON President Tandja's October 2 interview with "Le 
Monde". 
 
¶3. (U) In response to reporters' questions about the Mouvement des 
Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ), Tandja did not recognize the MNJ as 
a legitimate political group.  He is quoted as saying the combatants 
are no more than "drug traffickers seeking to dress themselves up as 
noble rebels."  Tandja reiterated the GON will not negotiate with 
drug traffickers and bandits, but cracked open a door for possible 
negotiation by stating that "peace will be reached eventually" and 
that his government is "willing to hold discussions with no 
limitations on subject matter, but only if the combatants lay down 
their arms." 
 
¶4.  (U) On the issue of whether he plans to run for a third term of 
office (ref A), Tandja ruled out that possibility.  He added he is 
democratic and will leave office at the end of his mandate, that he 
can serve his nation in other ways. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) When asked whether the U.S. is planning to install a 
military base in Niger as part of the plan to fight against 
terrorists, Tandja responded that the GON had not been asked about 
one.  He further stated "the U.S. has no need for one, as the 
Americans can detect a ping pong ball in the Sahara Desert through 
the use of satellites, far better than any armed person."  He added 
"there are no Islamic extremists in northern Niger, no one has seen 
or heard anything." 
 
¶6.  (U) Briefly touching on the subject of Niger's uranium deposits, 
Tandja stated that Niger, as the world's third largest exporter, 
must take advantage of the current rise in market prices to maximize 
its profits.  He put Areva (the French firm that holds uranium 
concessions) on notice that they must offer better remuneration to 
Niger, that he's prepared to take the matter to the politicians in 
Paris, if necessary.  He added that Niger will sell its share of the 
uranium produced on the open market. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) While excerpts of President Tandja's October 2 interview 
were covered, some media commentary lodged criticism about the 
interview being conducted with a journal abroad, instead of with 
local media in Niger.  At the same time, local journalists continue 
to face possible arrest, the most recent case that of Director of 
Publication for "Info de l'Air", Ibrahim Manzo, arrested last night 
at the Niamey airport while waiting to board a flight to Paris.  He 
allegedly was asked whether he was the Radio France International 
(RFI) correspondent.  Embassy learned that Manzo was transferred 
earlier today (10/10) to the National Police, but no public 
information has been released on the reason for the arrest.  The 
President of the Association of Niger Editors (ANEPI) condemned the 
arrest and called for national and international media and civil 
society to react firmly against the arrest. 
 
¶8. (U) There have been press reports that a French 
journalist/documentary filmmaker, Francois Bergeron, was expelled 
from Niger on October 5.  The Nigerien authorities had reportedly 
arrested him in Agadez on suspicion of having ties with the MNJ. 
The government prohibits foreign journalists from traveling to the 
north. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Comment.  In Ambassador's recent discussions with GON 
Cabinet members (two as recently as this week) about journalists' 
arrests and reporting restrictions, the consistent response has been 
that the journalists arrested haven't been arrested because of their 
profession or affiliation with a particular media organ, but rather 
because of their collaboration with individuals causing insecurity 
in the North.  They claim that restrictions are necessary because 
some journalists are sympathizers with the MNJ and, consequently, 
present biased reporting potentially demoralizing to military 
 
 
officers and their families.  They also state that the GON sometimes 
does not counter false reports because they don't want to alienate 
the general population against a particular ethnic group.  End 
comment. 
ALLEN