VZCZCXRO7631
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #1111/01 3261002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211002Z NOV 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4707
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 001111 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND DRL/AF 
 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM NG
SUBJECT:  CIVIL SOCIETY, OPPOSITION REACT TO CALLS FOR THIRD TERM 
FOR PRESIDENT TANDJA 
 
REF:  NIAMEY 1066 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  Over the past several months speculation has mounted in the 
local media, within civil society, and in political circles about 
President Tandja's political intentions to seek a third term through 
an amendment to the country's constitution, which limits the 
presidential office to two five-year terms.  While on several 
occasions the president has dismissed the option of seeking any 
extension, he has shown restraint toward current increasing calls 
asking him to do so and growing criticism urging him to refrain. 
After a series of statements by various civil society groups 
sounding the alarm, the political opposition is also becoming more 
vocal.  End Summary. 
 
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Calls for President Tandja to Continue in Office 
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¶2.  On August 5, in an editorial following the celebration of 
Niger's Independence Day and the laying of the first stone of the 
Kandadji dam, the head of the government communication unit said in 
evocative terms, "Mr. President, Nigeriens still need you."  On 
August 8, during a talk show on public television, GON Minister of 
Communications and Government Spokesman Mohamed Ben Omar called on 
Nigeriens not to allow "amateurish politicians" to lead the country. 
 In September, the Party for Concertation and Peace (PCP) issued a 
statement supporting President Tandja's work and announcing its 
intention to include the revision of the constitution on the agenda 
of the National Council for Political Dialogue (CNDP).  The CNDP, an 
advisory body made up of 39 political parties, rejected the PCP's 
request. 
 
¶3.  On October 12, a group of Islamic associations declared that 
there were no term limits for a leader (reftel).  Following the 
Zinder march on October 31 (reftel), similar movements took place in 
November in the regional capitals of Agadez, Tahoua, Tillabery, 
Maradi, and Niamey with chants of "tazarce" (a Hausa term roughly 
meaning "stay the course") to encourage President Tandja to continue 
his work.  These calls also urged the National Assembly, the civil 
society, and political parties to allow the president to do so. 
 
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Civil Society, Political Parties Warn Against Extension 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶4.  Various civil society groups have denounced and warned against 
any attempt to revise the constitution in order to extend limits in 
presidential terms.  On November 4, local sections of political 
parties in Zinder reacted to the march of third term supporters.  In 
a joint statement, the Social Democratic Convention (CDS), the 
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), the Alliance for 
Democracy and Progress (ADP), and the African Democratic Rally (RDA) 
denounced a spin by the governor of Zinder, and indicated "their 
will to defend the President against those who incite him to violate 
his Koranic oath."  The same group of parties made a similar 
statement in Maradi. 
 
¶5.  In Tillabery, the local sections of the PNDS and the National 
Convergence (CONIR) issued a joint statement to call on the 
president to abide by the oath of office.  They warned "all those 
who fear change and vie with deceit and opportunism to maintain 
their unearned income regardless of the true aspirations of the 
people" to brace themselves. 
¶6.  In Niamey, the federal executive board of the PNDS (the main 
opposition party) noted in a statement that the current political 
stability in Niger was built by all political parties and "allowed 
the design, negotiation, and implementation of several beneficial 
actions for the country."  The PNDS Niamey federal executive board 
further said that it would oppose any violation of the constitution. 
 It encouraged the President to commence preparations for 
transparent and fair elections in order to move Niger to the level 
of true democracies.  The PNDS federal executive board said it would 
use all legal means to protect the President against those who want 
to make him renounce his oath and to miss an honorable exit after 
all the loyal services he had rendered to the nation. 
 
¶7.  On November 20, the Confederation Democratique des Travailleurs 
du Niger (CDTN), the nation's second largest labor union 
confederation, issued a statement denouncing the ongoing marches 
calling for President Tandja to seek a third term.  The CDTN said 
the marches, made under the pretense of exercising freedom of 
expression, were an affront to the constitution and encouraged 
President Tandja to violate his oath of office.  The CDTN noted that 
the president is the first protector of the constitution, and that 
 
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he had therefore a duty to uphold its provisions.  Finally, the CDTN 
called on civil society to join efforts to prevent abuse of the 
constitution. 
 
¶8.  Also on November 20, the civil society umbrella organization 
Coordination de la Societe Civile Nigerienne (CSCN) denounced the 
"tazarce" movement, referring to it as a dangerous move aimed at 
"killing democracy" in Niger.  The CSCN called on the president to 
comply with the constitution and abide by his oath of office. 
 
¶9.  The November 12 issue of a local opposition newspaper, "La Roue 
de L'Histoire", published on its front page a letter from Prime 
Minister Seini Oumarou, chairperson of the National Council for 
Political Dialogue (CNDP), calling a CNDP meeting to examine 
National Voter Registration Committee progress, a Constitutional 
change and measures for compliance with the law on the 
classification of senior government positions. 
 
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Comment 
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¶9.  While "tazarce" marches receive nationwide coverage by state 
media and are received by government officials and traditional 
chiefs in all regions, opponents of this movement say that 
authorities in Niamey have denied them access to public media, 
despite the fact that they have paid for such coverage.  Others 
state that third mandate proponents hold signs at the front of 
crowds of people assembled to see President Tandja, wherein most 
participants have no idea that the signs are present and are not 
espousing opinions on whether or not he should remain in power. 
There are rumors that opposition political parties will issue a 
statement on the political situation in Niger in late November.  On 
the other hand, President Tandja may use the occasion of December 
18, Founding of the Republic Day, to make his intentions known. 
 
¶11.  A review of Niger's constitution and legal framework finds no 
support for an effort to extend a president's term of office. 
Article 36 of the constitution provides that the President is 
elected for a term of five years, and he can be re-elected once. 
Article 136 states that the provisions of Article 36 of the 
constitution shall not be subject to revision.  Furthermore, Article 
2, paragraph 4 of law 2004-46 of June 16, 2004, on the referendum 
process states, "no text relating to the provisions of Article 136 
of the Constitution shall be subject to a referendum."   End 
Comment. 
 
ALLEN