VZCZCXRO8144
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0831/01 2960946
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230946Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5399
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1680
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000831 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA; PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA 
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU - J MAYBURY 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM NG
SUBJECT: Niger: EmbOffs Meet with Cheiffou Amadou 
 
Ref:  Niamey 00511 
 
NIAMEY 00000831  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On October 21, Pol Officer and Pol Specialist met 
with Cheiffou Amadou, President of the Social Democratic Rally 
(RSD).  Cheiffou admitted that turnout for legislative elections 
held on October 20 was low in some areas, but blamed it on the 
harvest season.  He added that ECOWAS had waited too long to request 
the Government of Niger (GON) to postpone the October 20 legislative 
elections, which had already been funded and organized.  He asserted 
that the GON will continue to dialogue with ECOWAS in hopes of 
finding a compromise on the current situation.  Cheiffou further 
stated that all options to address the current political situation 
are on the table and that the GON is willing to share power with the 
opposition.  He also cited the ineffectiveness of economic sanctions 
on governments, claiming that the masses instead would suffer.  End 
Summary. 
 
RSD Party Now Aligned with Ruling Party 
--------------------------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) Social Democratic Rally (RSD), a former opposition party, 
recently aligned itself with the National Movement for a Developing 
Society (MNSD), the ruling party.  On June 17, Embassy officials met 
with members of RSD at the Ambassador's residence (reftel).  During 
the event, RSD members asserted that they were strong supporters of 
democratic principles, and were in favor of the August 4 referendum 
to change the constitution.  They did not support President Tandja's 
extension in office by three years, however, as they found no 
justification for him to do so. 
 
¶3. (SBU) When probed about their party's reasoning for a change in 
political stance, Cheiffou stated that when the "people" voted for a 
new constitution, they also voted to allow President Tandja to stay 
in office for an additional three years.  He went on to state that 
he supports the people and their decision, and added that he is only 
supporting what his people want.  Nonetheless, he believes that the 
current constitution is flawed.  Cheiffou stated that having 
unlimited presidential terms and not having a limited age 
requirement to run for president leaves open the possibility of 
having a president stay in office for life. 
 
Cheiffou Remarks on Low Voter Turnout in Urban Areas 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶4. (SBU) Cheiffou pointed out that turnout for the elections was 
low, especially in the morning, and cited the harvest season as the 
dominant factor.  He said that turnout was higher in the afternoon 
until the closing of polls at 6:30 p.m.  He also stated that the low 
turnout in cities like Niamey was not unusual, recalling a similar 
turnout for the 2004 presidential elections.  When pressed for 
numbers, Cheiffou estimated that turnout in the rural areas was 
40-50 percent, and only 10-20 percent in urban areas. 
 
Demands by ECOWAS Late; Election Bound by Constitution 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
¶5. (SBU) Cheiffou stated that the last-minute request by ECOWAS to 
postpone legislative election was "untimely."  He stated that the 
GON had already spent public funds in anticipation of the elections. 
 He added that volunteers and government officials had already been 
mobilized.  Cheiffou added that candidates spent large sums of money 
campaigning, and postponing the elections would have been unfair to 
them.  Cheiffou also said that "It would be unconstitutional for 
President Tandja to change the date of the legislative elections." 
According to the new constitution, "legislative elections shall take 
place in October 2009 at the latest." 
 
¶6. (SBU) Cheiffou stated that ECOWAS and the international community 
should have placed more pressure on the opposition to participate in 
legislative elections.  He went on to say that the international 
community seemed to miss the point on the role of the opposition. 
Cheiffou maintains contact with many of the opposition parties and 
had urged them to participate in the legislative elections.  He 
believes that participating is their only way in having a say in the 
government.  He added that several opposition parties did in fact 
participate. 
 
GON Willing to Share Power - "Anything is Negotiable" 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶7. (SBU) Cheiffou stated that the GON is willing to negotiate with 
the opposition.  He said that "anything is negotiable" except for 
returning to the old constitution.  He stated that the opposition 
had its chance to state its grievances during the referendum, but 
 
NIAMEY 00000831  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
that time has now passed.  He stated that the GON is willing to 
share power. When pressed for specifics, he said that the opposition 
could hold seats in the future Senate, municipal bodies, and the 
cabinet.  Cheiffou maintained these positions are what constitute 
the government.  When asked about the possibility of holding 
presidential elections, he responded that "all options were on the 
table."  (Note: the new constitution states "the incumbent president 
shall remain in office until the presidential election that will 
take place in December 2012" (Article 154) and "...the provisions of 
Article 154...are not subject to any change." (Article 152).  End 
note.) 
 
Sanctions Not Effective, Harm the Masses 
---------------------------------------- 
¶8. (SBU) Chieffou stated that sanctions imposed by the international 
community would only prove to worsen the lives of ordinary 
Nigeriens.  He stated that the harvest season was already bad, and 
that sanctions would only prove to worsen the situation.  He added, 
"sanctions in no country have ever worked to change the political 
situation.  Dialogue is what Niger needs." 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶9. (SBU) Cheiffou's demands appear unattainable.  The opposition 
does not recognize the new constitution; therefore, their 
participation in legislative elections would have given legitimacy 
to the current government.  Furthermore, his notion that ECOWAS 
should have informed the GON of its disapproval of the legislative 
elections at an earlier time rings hollow, as for several months 
ECOWAS and the African Union voiced their condemnation of Niger's 
announced legislative elections, having suggested to GON officials a 
postponement of the elections to a later date in order to facilitate 
dialogue with the opposition.  The GON may have begun to realize 
that economic sanctions imposed by the international community could 
have an adverse effect on the Nigerien people during an expected 
poor harvest.  End comment. 
 
ALLEN