VZCZCXRO8027
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0096/01 0362241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 052241Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5614
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1731
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000096 
 
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 SOCI KDEM NG
SUBJECT:  Niger: Opposition Members Provide Update 
 
Ref: a) Niamey 0048, b) Niamey 0029, c) Niamey 0025, d) 09 Niamey 
1005 
 
NIAMEY 00000096  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  During an office call on Charge, representatives 
of the Coordination of Forces for Democracy and the Republic (CFDR), 
Niger's main opposition group, provided an advanced copy of a 
memorandum outlining the opposition's response to the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediator's suggestions for 
a way out of Niger's political crisis.  The CFDR said that it would 
be willing to allow President Tandja to stay as a figure-head for a 
nine-month transitional period.  CFDR members added that it hoped an 
international observers' body, comprised by the European Union, 
African Union, ECOWAS, United States, and the United Nations could 
be established to ensure a peaceful transition.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On February 3, a delegation made up of Bazoum Mohamed, the 
Vice President of the opposition Nigerien Party for Democracy and 
Socialism (PNDS); Abdou Labo, Vice President of the Social 
Democratic Convention (CDS); Soumaila Bagna, representative of the 
General Confederation Free Trade Unions (CGSL); and Mahamane 
Hamissou, leader of the Coalition of Niger's Civil Society (CSCN) 
met with Charge at the Chancery.  The Charge, accompanied by PolOff 
and Pol Specialist, received the delegation led by Bazoum Mohamed, 
who had met several times in recent months with Embassy personnel 
(reftels).  The Charge and Mohamed discussed the MPPR-CFDA talks 
scheduled to re-commence on February 4; the views of the ECOWAS 
Mediator, Gen. (retired) Abdousamali Abubakar; the anticipated 
post-mediation agenda; and ways out of the current political 
impasse. 
 
Current Mediator Proposal is Vague 
---------------------------------- 
¶3. (SBU) Bazoum expressed dissatisfaction with the content of the 
Mediator's road map.  On January 14, ECOWAS Mediator Abubakar 
presented his suggestions for a way out of the political crisis for 
Niger (ref A).  According to Bazoum, the propositions by the 
Mediator lack clarity and are vague, leaving substantial room for 
differences in interpretation.  For example, the mediator's proposal 
did not indicate the proposed duration for the transition, nor did 
it determine the bodies that would lead the transition. 
Furthermore, it did not clarify on which basis and how the current 
National Assembly would remain and be extended to provide for the 
opposition's representation and it did not mention the drafting and 
adoption by consensus of a new constitution. 
 
President Tandja Can Remain for Nine Months 
------------------------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) The opposition stated that it could agree to President 
Tandja's remaining in power as a figure-head for a none-month 
transitional period.  In this capacity, he would no longer have 
exceptional executive powers to rule by decree.  (Note:  The latter 
point differs from the opposition's proposal of December when it 
stated that it would be willing to concede that President Tandja be 
permitted remain in power for up to six months during a transitional 
period.  End note.)  When pressed for his rationale behind this time 
frame, Bazoum argued that this nine-month window would provide 
sufficient time to organize elections; this period is similar to a 
past transitional period, he said, citing the political situation 
that occurred in 1997.  Abdou Labo added that a new constitution 
could easily be drafted based on the 1999 constitution, which was 
the result of a consultative process, and even some aspects of the 
2009 constitution. He noted that Niger has extensive experience in 
updating voter lists as well as revising the Electoral Code, 
organizing the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), and 
managing the electoral process as a whole, and therefore this would 
not take too much time. 
 
Conditions for Transitional Period 
---------------------------------- 
¶5. (SBU) Bazoum stated that the GON must annul the results of the 
August 4 referendum, as well as the October 20 legislative elections 
and December 27 municipal elections. He added that any actions taken 
by President Tandja since his assumption of emergency powers and 
under the 6th Republic must be annulled.  Following that, transition 
bodies should be installed with President Tandja remaining in office 
as a figure-head leader; a Prime Minister (who also would serve as 
head of government and head of the armed forces); a Cabinet made up 
of equal numbers between the president's supporters and the CFDR; a 
National Transition Council made up of 50 members (25 from the 
presidential camp and 25 from the CFDR) acting as legislative body; 
 
NIAMEY 00000096  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
a State Council acting as a Constitutional Court; and a National 
Communication Observatory acting as the High Council of 
Communication (CSC).  The specific prerogatives of the transition 
bodies will be defined by consensus. 
 
New Constitution 
---------------- 
¶6. (SBU) Aside from the transition bodies, a "Commission of 
Fundamental Texts" would be set up by consensus to draft a new 
constitution, electoral code, and other pertinent statutes.  He 
added that at the end of the transition period, there would be 
elections, but that no members of any transition bodies would be 
allowed to run as candidates in the presidential elections. 
 
President Tandja meets with President Wade of Senegal 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶7. (SBU) Bazoum stated that leaders of Niger's main opposition 
group, the Coordination of Forces for Democracy and the Republic 
(CFDR) had travelled to Senegal to meet with President Wade and 
asked if he could help solve the political situation in Niger.  On 
his way back from the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, President 
Wade made a brief stop-over in Niamey, perhaps to gauge President 
Tandja's receptiveness to this concept.  In remarks offered for 
media at the airport, however, President Tandja, speaking in Hausa, 
promptly rejected the notion that any outsider other than the ECOWAS 
mediator would be permitted to involve himself in Niger's domestic 
issues. Opposition members argued that President Tandja's statements 
were meant for public consumption and that he wanted to demonstrate 
his authority and resolute position to Nigeriens. 
 
High Hopes for Mediation Talks 
------------------------------ 
¶8. (SBU) Comment:  Although the meeting provided hope that the 
opposition actively is trying to make generate a range of political 
accommodations to allow Niger to move beyond the current crisis, 
there is no indication that the GON will do the same.  The 
opposition members acknowledged so much, stating that their true 
hope is that the Mediator writes a thorough and accurate report for 
the upcoming ECOWAS Heads of States summit scheduled for February 
16, which will follow the mediation, and that his report will 
recognize that the opposition had made substantial efforts to 
compromise and deliver Niger from its political impasse.  End 
comment. 
 
WHITAKER