International
Condemnations Trail Niger Coup
Nigeria
has condemned the current developments in neighbouring Niger
Republic, denouncing the military coup and warning of regional
consequences of ascension to power by unconstitutional means.
Nigeria’s Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan condemned the
shootings around the presidency in Niamey and the subsequent
take over of power by the military on Thursday.
The junta, calling itself the Supreme Council for the
Restoration of Democracy (CSDR), gave no indication of how long
it intended to hold power but called on Niger's people and other
countries to support its actions.
In a broadcast on Thursday evening, the plotters announced that
the constitution had been suspended and all state institutions
dissolved.
A day after the coup, markets, banks and schools in Niger's
capital opened as usual on Friday, with few armed military
presence. The head of the military junta that seized power had
called for calm and said the work of government ministers and
regional governors ousted in the coup was being done by their
secretary generals.
Condemnation by all
The international community has joined in condemning the
overthrow of government.
The African Union decried the political development. AU chief
Jean Ping said he was watching developments ‘with concern’.
The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), which
suspended Niger after Mr. Tandja's actions, said it had ‘zero
tolerance’ for any unconstitutional changes of government.
’’We condemn the coup d'etat just as we condemn the
constitutional coup d'etat by Tandja,’’ ECOWAS official
Abdel Fatau Musa said.
The West African bloc has dispatched a mission to talk to the
plotters, led by Colonel Salou Djibo.
France has also criticised the military takeover and called for
dialogue in the former French colony.
‘Coup a positive development’
Diplomats and analysts are however expressing the views that the
new political situation could create an opportunity to hold
elections that were postponed by Tandja's unpopular
constitutional reform in 2009.
After months of political wrangling over Tandja's amendment of
the constitution, which provoked international sanctions and
demonstrations, there was a sense of relief and hope for change
in the uranium-producing West African nation.
Mr Tandja provoked a political crisis last August when he
changed the constitution to allow him to remain in power
indefinitely.
The government and opposition had been holding on-off talks
since December to try to resolve the country's political crisis.
Mr. Tandja, a former army officer, was first voted into office
in 1999 and was returned to power in an election in 2004.
COV/Aneke/BBC/Reuters/Yinka
