VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #1135/01 3381644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031644Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4731
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS NIAMEY 001135 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND DRL/AE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI SCUL EAGR EAID NG
SUBJECT:  NIGER:  POL/ECON UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 15 - 30, 2008 
 
¶1.  The following is an Embassy Niger compilation of political and 
economic highlights for the second half of November 2008 not 
otherwise covered in mission reporting.  This report covers the 
following issues: 
 
-- Travel Warning Extended for the North 
-- Prison Letter from Former PM Hama Amadou 
-- Anti-Globalization Conference Held in Niamey 
-- Hajj Season off to a Rough Start 
-- Niger Ranks 32 out of 52 States in Child Wellbeing 
-- Monthly Donor Breakfast:  Food Situation and Security 
 
Travel Warning Extended for the North 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On November 21, President Tandja signed an executive order 
extending the state of alert for the northern Agadez region for an 
additional 90-day period from its effective date of November 24. 
The state of alert has been in place since August 2007. 
 
Prison Letter from Former PM Hama Amadou 
---------------------------------------- 
¶3.  From the Koutoukale prison where he is detained, former prime 
minister Hama Amadou wrote a letter dated November 20 to the members 
of the executive board of his political party - the National 
Movement for a Society of Development (MNSD), the main party of 
Niger's ruling coalition.  Amadou said, "The crisis our party has 
been experiencing for about a year is caused by some of our fellow 
members in government, at the National Assembly, and within the 
executive board of the party who attempt to change by force, 
intimidation, and threats the MNSD's legitimate leadership...Our 
party has no leadership prolem insofar as no on e within the 
executive board has denied that Hama Amadou is and remains president 
of the party, until the time when the sponsors of his illegal 
imprisonment managed to strip him of his political rights by 
unlawful means." 
 
¶4. Hama was very critical about the MNSD executive board's 
resolution on November 9 appointing an interim party president and a 
joint committee, made up of both Hama's supporters and detractors, 
to manage the party.  He said, "In the current situation, I thought 
that the major concern for all party members. . .would be the 
release of the party's leader, who was arrested illegally and 
imprisoned arbitrarily...there is a fool's game, which I now 
understand clearly - give us the party's leadership, then we will 
see about the release of the one you call your president.  It is 
tragic to see such lack of solidarity within a 
party...Unfortunately, I am afraid that if some of our fellow party 
members continue to have this attitude, the MNSD will likely split 
to the detriment of all."  Hama urged his party members to observe 
fully the party's regulations in any move toward reconciliation. 
Anti-Globalization Conference Held in Niamey 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶5.  On November 25-28, the African Social Forum (an 
anti-globalization movement) held its fifth conference in Niamey. 
The forum is n "open space for discussion, analysis, and the 
formulation of alternatives to neoliberal policies."  The forum 
opened on November 25 with a march and rally that gathered about 
10,000 people and during which activities chanted slogans like, 
"Another Africa is possible, down with imperialism, the World Bank, 
the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the 
G-8."  Some shouted, "With Obama, a black person in the White House, 
the world has changed."  Others called for, "A free, sovereign, and 
democratic Africa, governed by the rule of law."  The forum's events 
included workshops, seminars, exhibits, films, and concerts covering 
topics such as food self-sufficiency and the right to food in the 
Sahel, environmental issues, women's rights and empowerment, and 
press freedom. 
 
Hajj Season off to a Rough Start 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The ordeal of Niger's pilgrims to Mecca continues due to poor 
organization of the Hajj, as the GON and private travel agencies 
struggled to find an adequate solution to the transportation issue 
to convey some 9,000 to Jeddah from Niamey.  In September, the GON 
reviewed travel agency and airline service records over the past few 
years, and levied sanctions, ranging from suspension to termination 
against those with bad records.  The Minister of Religious Affairs, 
while recognizing that the Hajj is an important commercial activity, 
cited "crookery and fraud in special travel documents" and "bad 
practices that nearly created diplomatic incidents" with some 
countries. 
 
¶7.  The GON called for bids, wherein Yemenia Airways and Ethiopian 
Airlines and their Nigerien partners were selected to carry Nigerien 
pilgrims.  Under this measure, Sahel Airlines, a partner of Yemenia 
Airways, was to carry about 6,000 pilgrims out of a total of 9,000. 
In October, the GON terminated the contract with Sahel Airlines, but 
a court ruling ordered the GON to honor the agreement.  This process 
delayed the Hajj organization, with thousands of pilgrims who came 
to Niamey from all parts of the country incurring great hardship. 
 
 
Niger Ranks 32 out of 52 States in Child Wellbeing 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶8.  The African Child Policy Forum recently released the "African 
Report on Child Wellbeing 2008."  The report ranks Niger 32 among 52 
African nations surveyed, classifying the GON under the 
"Child-Frienly Index" in the intermediate category of "Fairly 
Child-Friendly."  This was mainly for two reasons:  first, as a 
result of the GON putting in place fairly appropriate legal 
provisions to protect children against abuse and exploitation; and 
secondly, because of its fair commitment in allocating a relatively 
high share of its national budget to provide for the basic needs of 
children.  Niger ranked 35th in the combined index for provision of 
basic services for children, which is measured based on two 
elements:  budgetary commitment and child-related outcomes achieved. 
 
 
Monthly Donor Breakfast:  Food Security and Prices 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶9.  Participants made the following observations regarding food 
security and prices during the November 24 monthly donor's breakfast 
in Niamey: 
 
-- Favorable 2008 rains enabled Niger to set record harvest levels 
for every major crop.  On the average, the cereals production level 
is 20% higher than last year and 29% more than the five-year 
average.   This makes a fourth consecutive good annual harvest for 
Niger.  Neighboring countries recorded similar bumper harvests. 
 
-- Prices for key food staples (millet and sorghum) did not fall 
steeply as they usually do following the September-October harvest 
and, currently the average price for these locally-grown staples is 
30% higher than this time last year.  At the same time, the cost of 
imported rice, a major staple for urban populations, is over 40% 
higher than this time last year. 
 
-- These higher costs are making it harder for poor people who have 
to buy food to satisfy their daily minimum dietary requirements. 
There is much concern that prices will continue to climb in the 
months ahead, thereby obliging poor people to consume less.  This 
issue of food accessibility will loom larger as farm families 
exhaust their household stocks in a few months' time.  Meanwhile, 
the GON is working with donors to replenish its cereal reserves but 
higher prices mean less grain is being purchased with planned 
budgets. 
ALLEN