VZCZCXRO1063
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0072/01 0290735
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290735Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5594
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1726

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NIAMEY 000072 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SNAR KCRM EAGR SOCI NG
SUBJECT:  Niger: President Tandja's New Year Address of Dip Corps: 
Rationalizing, Scolding, and Warning 
 
Ref: a) 09 Niamey 0044, b) 09 Niamey 0899, c) 09 Niamey 1008 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On January 13, President Tandja accepted the 
greetings of the Dean of the diplomatic corps and addressed the 
assembled group in his customary manner.  Although most of his 
remarks offered a lengthy defense for his anti-democratic political 
maneuverings of the past year, he argued that they had occurred at 
the behest of the people.  President Tandja, somewhat surprisingly, 
scolded some for not observing protocol and warned in general 
against interference in the nation's internal affairs.  He went on 
to temper this threat, urging the diplomatic community to continue 
its efforts to strengthen the friendship and partnership that 
Nigeriens have come to welcome and enjoy.  President Tandja also 
recalled with pride success in ending the conflict with rebel groups 
in the north, noted the role of trafficking in drugs and arms in 
insecurity, and mentioned rising commodity prices due to climate 
change and poor weather conditions.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) After receiving the customary New Year's greetings from the 
Dean of the diplomatic corps, the Algerian ambassador, President 
Tandja presented his remarks to the diplomatic corps, other than the 
United States and Canada, which both elected not to participate, 
His remarks were as follows: 
 
(Begin text) 
Mr Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, 
Ladies and gentlemen members of diplomatic and consular missions; 
Ladies and gentlemen representatives of international and regional 
organizations; 
We thank the All Mighty and the All Merciful, who once again has 
provided us with the opportunity to meet again, to share this solemn 
moment devoted to the ceremony to present New Year wishes.  Having 
respected this tradition with the heads of the institutions of the 
Republic, the current ceremony with the diplomatic corps is of 
special significance to us.  As a matter of fact, it enables us to 
express our constant friendship and renewed gratitude to you for the 
invaluable cooperation which Niger has always benefited from each 
one of the countries and institutions you represent, a friendship 
and gratitude for which we have always worked together in the 
context of solidarity and international cooperation, for the 
improvement of the livelihood of Niger's people.  This meeting also 
provides the opportunity to evoke, in a sort of direct dialogue, the 
major events that characterized national life by paying particular 
attention to the observations, which you as privileged observers, 
have to make on the development of this country in terms of the 
achievements made, the perspectives for Niger and its people, and 
the challenges to meet. 
First of all, I would like to thank you, Mr Dean, for the good 
wishes you expressed, on behalf of your colleagues, to Niger and its 
people, to the officials in charge of the Institutions of the 
Republic, and to myself for the new year.  Please receive in return, 
my equally warm wishes to all of you, your respective families and 
to the authorities of the countries and institutions you represent. 
May the year 2010 bring to all of us, good health and success in our 
endeavors, so that in peace and mutual comprehension, the noble 
ambitions you entertain for the progress of our people and the whole 
of mankind may be accomplished. 
Mr Dean, 
You noted, with good reason, that Niger experienced a particularly 
intense 2009, both politically and economically. 
In either instance, considering the highly significant actions the 
people of Niger made in a patriotic drive, it is with a renewed 
confidence in our capacity to meet the important challenges our 
Nation is facing that we are starting this year 2010.  The major 
fact, in this firm resolve, remains that the people expressed 
themselves in the August 4 referendum in favor of the radical reform 
of the Republic.  The choice results from a healthy analysis of 
democratic practice in Niger and is translated by the option to see 
the conduct of government affairs carried out in a new spirit which 
puts an end to the institutional mechanism relying on compromises 
and bargaining so cherished by certain political leaders but which 
does not serve the national interest.  Therefore, on the occasion of 
this referendum, Niger's people expressed themselves in complete 
freedom in the exercise of their sovereignty, and thus gave new 
direction and vision to the future of the country.  A certain 
political class, which failed to bring about its contradiction 
through the ballot, resorted to a campaign of disinformation and 
promised to put this country to fire and sword, on the grounds of a 
so-called fight for democracy, even though they failed to observe 
one of democracy's fundamental principles, which is the submission 
to the will of the people. 
As far as we are concerned, our line of conduct is the one dictated 
by the people of Niger, and it is because we remained confident 
about it that, despite all the challenges, all the subversive 
 
NIAMEY 00000072  002 OF 003 
 
 
speeches and slander conveyed by the national and international 
media, we satisfied this people's demand.  The process of radical 
reform indeed took place both in accordance with legal provisions 
and in the acceptance of differences of opinions which each and 
everyone could nurture; and the final decision was dependent on the 
sole sovereign will of Niger's people. 
This, Mr Dean, ladies and gentlemen members of the diplomatic corps, 
is the atmosphere which surrounded the process, conducted in a 
democratic and republican context which, however, some people would 
like to deny the entire nation.  But we have faith that this 
internal debate, transformed into a profound crisis for unavowed 
motives, will end with the ongoing inter Nigerien dialogue, 
facilitated by the ECOWAS mediator Abdul Salami Abubakar. 
I remain convinced that those whose only strategy was to discredit 
this country, which is equally theirs, in the campaign against this 
radical reform process, will have a change of heart for the 
preservation of the national interest, because it is first and 
foremost the duty of Niger's people to build their country and make 
it an active and respected member on the international scene. 
Mr Dean, 
Diplomatic practice the world over is conducted in such a way that 
the diplomatic community takes part in the activities of the host 
country and supports the people both in times of happiness and 
sorrow.  You underscored very opportunely, the need for this 
community to fully take part in the life of the country, in the 
framework of the duty of its representation and in respect of the 
obligation of reserve to which the members are also bound.  As far 
as we are concerned, no ambiguity should continue to surround the 
issue.  That is why those who believe they are entitled to depart 
from these principles and continue to flout the rules of protocol 
relating to the institutions which the people freely acquired, will 
soon pay the consequences.  Niger is ready to work, as usual, in the 
context of the friendship between peoples, with all the peace and 
justice loving countries; however, outside of any interference in 
its internal affairs, and in the respect of the sovereignty and 
dignity of its people. 
You also said it, Mr Dean, the diplomatic community has a role to 
play in the process of this country's development, for the 
improvement of the livelihood of Niger people.  The very essence of 
this brotherly presence is to strengthen friendship ties and 
establish fruitful partnerships that will lead to the deployment, in 
the best conditions, of assistance which the countries and 
institutions you represent, have provided to Niger, in all the areas 
of common interest. Niger and its people will always be grateful to 
you and I know with all of you, we still have a lot of initiatives 
to materialize together, in this permanent quest for the well-being 
of our people, and in order to ensure peace and tranquility 
everywhere in our respective countries. 
Mr Dean, 
Ladies and gentlemen heads of diplomatic and consular services, 
If there is another event during the last year which Niger can 
recall with pride, it is definitely the return of peace to the 
northern part of the country, which was as you know it, subjected to 
insecurity for a few years, caused so many rifts, and slowed down 
economic activity in the region of Agadez.  Today, thanks to the 
assistance of our brother, the Guide of the Libyan Revolution, and 
with the perfect understanding of the real stakes for Niger at this 
moment by the soldiers of the armed forces, all the armed rebellions 
have pledged, in conjunction with the Government, to accept the 
dynamics of peace, by agreeing to lay down their weapons. 
I congratulate them, and I also congratulate all the people of Niger 
at the same time, because the return of the members of the rebellion 
to their respective families has demonstrated how our countrymen are 
able to challenge themselves in order to put their country above any 
other ambition.  From now on, the region of Agadez, which is already 
experiencing strong mining activity with a real impact on the 
livelihood of the people, is gaining renewed impetus with the upturn 
of tourist activities, because of this newly found peace.  All the 
necessary measures have been taken to strengthen this process, so 
that the children of Niger can look in the same direction and work 
resolutely toward nation building. 
However, we know the challenge is great.  Lasting peace in the Sahel 
and Sahara region requires collective efforts, sustained cooperation 
in a regional context, and the coordinated and efficient fight 
against all sorts of trafficking which we have been insistently 
drawing attention to for some years now.  We have always said that 
drugs and arms trafficking is at the very heart of the insecurity, 
which kept growing in various forms, in the sub-region.  The recent 
unfortunate events in the north of Tillaberi, those of Telemses a 
few days later and the kidnapping of other foreigners carried out 
again some months ago, ended up showing the transnational nature of 
this phenomenon. 
That is why the fight for the security and stability of this 
sub-region warrants constant vigilance and combined efforts.  This 
 
NIAMEY 00000072  003 OF 003 
 
 
challenge, Mr Dean, is facing us, concomitantly with other concerns 
such as the ones related to the consequences of climate change, 
namely bad weather which our people are subjected to, the issue of 
food security, which is thwarted by soil erosion and erratic the 
seasons, all of which are happening in a context of rising prices of 
basic commodities. 
All these questions and the global answers they need, give their 
true meaning to international solidarity and cooperation but also to 
the willingness to live together, in a world of peace and shared 
prosperity. 
Niger's 6th Republic is ready to commit itself to meeting these 
common challenges, in the framework of sustained cooperation with 
all its partners, by making its contribution to the building of 
peace and progress for all. 
Thank you for your kind attention. 
(End text) 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶3. (SBU) More than half of President Tandja's remarks involved a 
well-worn rationale behind his political maneuverings of the past 
year, repeating the oft-told explanation that the circumstances were 
due to the "peoples' will."  His scolding those who were absent for 
not observing protocol and warning against interference in Niger's 
internal affairs came as a surprise, and quite a contrast to his 
remarks of the year before, which the U.S. Charge attended, and at 
which President Tandja mentioned political change in the United 
States favorably (ref A).  His frustration likely reflected his 
dismay that that several ambassadors declined a GON invitation to 
attend the installation of the newly-elected National Assembly on 
November 14, including the United States, France, Nigeria, Germany, 
and the European Commission (ref B).  The notable absence of the 
U.S. Ambassador and Canadian Head of Aid Mission at the New Year's 
address no doubt caught his attention. 
 
¶4. (SBU) President Tandja's reaction, along with his criticism of 
ECOWAS on December 20 (ref C), attests to his growing irritation 
with outsiders who refuse to accept as legitimate his political 
machinations and dare to levy sanction against his Tazartche state. 
It is entirely possible that the near future will see a diplomat or 
NGO being expelled from Niger.   On January 11, responding to New 
Year's wishes from the heads of government agencies, President 
Tandja asked Nigeriens to brace for "sacrifices" that might result 
from international sanctions.  He said, "The fight has just begun, 
and imposes upon us more sacrifice, courage, and determination to 
face the numerous challenges before us." 
 
¶5. (SBU) Although President Tandja referred to trafficking in arms 
and drugs, he did not mention international terrorists specifically, 
as he did last year (ref A).  Also, he noted with pride Niger's 
success in bringing to an end nearly three years of conflict with 
rebel Tuareg groups in the nation's north, going to the point of 
thanking the "Guide of the Libyan Revolution" for assisting in this 
process.  Finally, he mentioned in passing, only at the end of his 
remarks, climate change and other conditions that had led to rising 
commodity prices and the issue of food security.  End comment. 
 
WHITAKER