VZCZCXRO1803
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0505/01 1871551
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061551Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5174
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NIAMEY 000505 
 
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E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI NG
SUBJECT:  NIGER: Ambassador Allen Hosts Political Parties 
 
REF: Niamey 448 
 
NIAMEY 00000505  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Allen hosted a series of dinners at the 
Chief of Mission Residence (CMR), June 4-30, inviting six of Niger's 
most influential political parties.  These dinners allowed Embassy 
officials to meet political party leaders and gain insight into 
party perspectives on upcoming legislative and presidential 
elections and the deteriorating political landscape in Niger. 
Discussions were intense, direct, and broad in scope.  While some of 
the parties supported President Tandja's plan for a constitutional 
referendum, the majority were against it, and believed that 
President Tandja was acting outside of the law.  End summary. 
 
Rally for Democracy and Progress - The People 
RDP -Jama'a) 
--------------------------------------------- - 
¶2. (SBU) The June 9 dinner at the CMR with RDP leaders came on the 
heels of President Tandja's May 26 decision to dissolve the National 
Assembly.  When asked their opinion on recent political 
developments, the RDP leaders responded that they supported the idea 
of a constitutional referendum because they favor a presidential 
regime and believed that Article 141 of the current constitution, 
which provides amnesty for the perpetrators of the 1996 and 1999 
military coups, should be excluded from any new text.  Asked if they 
would support the referendum even if the amnesty were not removed, 
they responded that they would.  The RDP leaders did say, however, 
that they were surprised and disappointed that President Tandja 
would seek a new constitution providing for a three-year "transition 
period" during which he would remain in power.  They also stated 
that they were not in favor of organizing a referendum before 
holding legislative elections. 
 
National Party for Democracy and Socialism - Unity (PNDS-Tarraya) 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶3. (SBU) At the June 16 dinner with the PNDS leadership, PNDS 
President Mahamadou Issoufou opened the dialogue by welcoming the 
statement issued by the State Department on May 29.  This dinner 
came four days after the Constitutional Court issued its ruling that 
President Tandja's plan for a constitutional referendum was 
unconstitutional.  Issoufou was very candid, providing intimate 
details about meetings he had held with President Tandja.  Issoufou 
expressed his disappointment in President Tandja, citing meetings 
during which Tandja repeatedly assured him that he would not seek a 
third term.  Issoufou admitted that he had been taken in by 
President Tandja's deception.  He went on to say that in April 2009, 
Issoufou had encouraged President Tandja to step down at the end of 
his term in December, but that Tandja responded that he is the only 
person capable of ruling Niger. 
 
¶4. (SBU) PNDS members condemned President Tandja's bid to remain in 
office and expressed a desire for a stronger condemnation by the 
international community, and said that they planned to devote more 
efforts in the future to relations with the US Government.  Embassy 
officials sought clarification on the rationale for President 
Tandja's remaining in power.  PNDS stated that Tandja had asserted 
that the "semi-presidential" regime provided for by the 1999 
constitution is inadequate for Niger.  Issoufou noted that this 
provision could be revised without changing the constitution in its 
entirety.  PNDS believes Tandja has a weak argument.  They noted 
that any group or voice contrary to Tandja's plans is excluded from 
the public media.  It was abundantly clear that PNDS leaders firmly 
oppose President Tandja's plan to draft a new constitution and 
prolong his presidency. 
 
Social Democratic Rally - Truth (RSD - Gaskiya) 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶5.  (SBU) At the June 17 dinner, RSD leadership stated that they are 
a relatively new party, created a few weeks before local and general 
elections in Niger in 2004.  Despite this obstacle, they were able 
to obtain seven seats in the National Assembly and several local 
council members throughout the country.  For example, the RSD 
controls all three communes and the City of Maradi.  RSD asserted 
that they are strong supporters of democratic principles, yet are in 
favor of a referendum to change the constitution.  However, they 
were surprised to learn that President Tandja would like to extend 
his term in office by three years, as they find no justification for 
him to do so.  Asked about the president's decision to have all 
National Assembly members repay the excess money that they had 
received prior to increased allowances were permitted by law, RSD 
President Cheiffou thought this made sense, but blamed the National 
Assembly President for presumably failing to inform parliamentarians 
that they had to stop receiving the extra payments. 
 
 
NIAMEY 00000505  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) One guest, however, a former Minister of Finance, disagreed 
and stated that the money had been budgeted and that responsibility 
fell on more than the parliamentarians.  He noted that the Executive 
Branch approved the funding that had been requested and passed by 
the National Assembly, that the bill was signed subsequently by the 
Minister of Finance.  In his view, it was not fair that the 
President use non-repayment of the funds by National Assembly 
members as grounds for dissolving parliament.  According to him, the 
President's aim, one year after this dispute occurred, was to 
prevent those former members of parliament who oppose "Tazarce" 
(Note: Hausa language for "let it continue".  End note.) from 
returning to the National Assembly. 
 
Social Democratic Convention - Mercy and Prosperity (CDS-Rahama) 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶7. (SBU) At the June 19 dinner, CDS leadership was asked about for 
views regarding President Tandja's plans to remain in power.  The 
CDS leaders were quick to remind the Embassy team that on May 14 the 
CDS had asserted the principles of their party - primarily that they 
abide by the constitution and that they would not support any move 
that would violate the constitution.  Asked why the party had not 
made any subsequent public statements, CDS President Mahamane 
Ousmane stated that CDS did not need to issue a statement because 
the CDS is part of the ruling coalition and so would rather engage 
in direct dialogue with the President.  Ousmane said, "we prefer to 
fight from within, rather than on the streets."  (Comment: Many 
political observers, however, have stated they did not understand 
Ousmane's silence.  End Comment.)  Ousmane said that CDS would 
continue to disagree "within" the ruling coalition and take 
advantage of having direct contact with the President.  He said he 
would try to convince President Tandja to abandon his project; if 
President Tandja persisted with the referendum, CDS would take 
another position.  Regarding President Tandja's move to have the 
National Assembly members pay back unduly received allowance, 
Ousmane, who has been the National Assembly's Speaker until its 
dissolution on May 26, said that the President obviously intended to 
embarrass the Deputies, discredit them in the eyes of public opinion 
and attempt to disqualify them in the impending legislative 
elections. 
 
¶8. (U) He lauded Voice of America (VOA) during the course of the 
dinner, notably for its broadcast in Hausa, stating that frequently 
in regions outside of Niamey, VOA may be the only unbiased news 
reporting the masses receive about political and other matters in 
Niger.  He commented how the French final added a Hausa transmission 
only this past year, following the footsteps of the U.S., the United 
Kingdom and the People's Republic of China. 
 
National Movement for a Society of Development - Victory 
(MNSD - Nassara) 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶9. (SBU) As a result of reported disorganization within the MNSD 
headquarters, a dinner originally scheduled for June 12 was 
postponed to June 23.  A couple of members showed up on June 12, but 
as the MNSD had not confirmed attendance, no dinner preparations had 
been made for them.  Ambassador offered them drinks and offered to 
host a dinner later in the month. (Note: While the other political 
parties sent their most senior leadership, the MNSD, which is the 
main party in the ruling coalition, sent a few die-hard MNSD members 
for the dinner. End note.)  The MNSD strongly supports a 
presidential regime instead of the current "semi-presidential" one 
in order to provide full powers to the President.   The President 
could then enact policy without the endorsement of the Prime 
Minister.  (Note:  Under the current system, the president serves as 
head of state and the prime minister as head of government.  End 
note.)  MNSD supports the President's actions, and in February held 
a convention to renew the parties' leadership after the motion of no 
confidence against the former Prime Minister, Hama Amadou (former 
MNSD party president). 
 
¶10. (U) When asked whether the current schism within MNSD is harmful 
to the party, one dinner guest responded it was the MNSD leadership 
that decided to remove some names from the party rolls because it 
learned, after the Zinder convention in February 2008 that some MNSD 
members intended to undermine the party.  In his view, the party was 
better off without the persons it "kicked out of the party."  When 
asked whether former Prime Minister/party president Hama Amadou's 
new party, Lumana (Peace), would have an impact, the MNSD guests 
downplayed the creation of the new party as a non-event and opined 
it would not hurt the MNSD.  Regarding President Tandja's June 20 
decree announcing legislative elections on August 20, MNSD officials 
said that they were compiling their lists of candidates.  They did 
not, however, discuss the referendum. 
 
NIAMEY 00000505  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
Niger's Patriotic Movement - Youth (MPN - Matassa) 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶11. (SBU) The June 30 dinner with MPN leadership took place a day 
after President Tandja had dissolved the Constitutional Court, named 
eight new ministers, and had an opposition civil society group 
leader arrested for inciting security and military forces to disobey 
unlawful orders.  Embassy officials gained helpful insights into the 
youth movement in Niger during the course of this dinner.  MPN 
leaders clearly opposed President Tandja's bid to organize a 
constitutional referendum.  They conveyed their fear that President 
Tandja would employ any means necessary to stay in power and was 
about to "cross the point of no return."  This would include using 
traditional chiefs to muster sufficient votes to pass the 
referendum.  MPN leaders are of the opinion that Tandja believes 
that potential sanctions by Western countries would be nullified by 
Chinese support.  They noted that the MPN seeks to educate youth on 
its role in politics and encourage women to participate in politics. 
 MPN, made of young, diplomaed entrepreneurs, has a slate of 58 
candidates that will vie for seats in legislative elections slated 
for August 20. 
 
Alliance for Democracy and Progress - Living in Peace (ANDP - Zaman 
Lahiya) 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶12. (U) The June 26 dinner scheduled with ANDP has been postponed to 
a date to be determined, as ANDP is still reorganizing after ANDP 
President Moumouni Djermakoye succumbed from a heart attack 
following an opposition rally on June 14 (reftel). 
 
Allen