Niger court drops corruption charges against former president

Niger's appeals court has dropped corruption charges against former president Mamadou Tandja, imprisoned in February 2010 after being ousted in a coup. Speaking on Tandja's behalf one of his lawyers, Souley Oumarou, said: “All proceedings against Mamadou Tandja have been cancelled. He has been wholly exempted from the accusations against him."

Another one of Tandja's lawyers added that the appeals court in Niamey had ruled the examining magistrate was not capable of hearing cases involving a former president. Tandja was accused of embezzling state funds worth $1 million, and was linked to a corrupt fertiliser deal worth between $9 - $10million.

In December 2010, the State Court of Niger lifted the former president's immunity clearing the way for prosecution. He was charged and transferred in January to the Kollo prison just outside Niamey. On Tuesday 2nd May, the court of appeals ruled that Tandja should be released.

Sources: BBC News, AFP, Ghana News Agency, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.

Algeria: More infighting among the regime

Our sources in Algeria have confirmed that infighting among clans has got noticeably worse in the last week or so. We can, of course, speculate that this has something to do with the decline in the president's health. Our sources explained, however, that it is because the clans cannot agree on how to make the urgently needed political changes while at the same time ensuring they retain power.

We are also hearing reports that more and more young officers are criticising both of the major clans; by which we understand that to mean the presidency and the DRS. We would certainly not go so far as to suggest that this indicates the making of a military coup. Nevertheless, the longer the situation drags on without any meaningful decisions coming out of the regime, the greater the build-up of frustration across what is a highly professional, educated and potentially powerful 'middle-rank' officer class.

Algeria has more than enough precedents for army officers to effect a coup d'état, and there are many Algerians who see such a coup as the most straightforward way of ridding the country of a thoroughly decrepit, illegitimate and corrupt regime before it does the country more lasting damage.

In neighbouring Niger, it took a handful of army officers, one in particular, precisely 12 months to affect a military coup, oust President Mamadou Tandja, hold a referendum on a new constitution and return the country to a full-blown, democratically elected civilian government. This is a remarkable achievement by African standards; and one that could easily be emulated in Algeria.

In fact, even within the administration, more and more people are openly questioning whether the current situation is tenable. Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia is “definitely showing all the signs of living on another planet”, to quote one opposition figure, and is creating more trouble for the regime every time he speaks, with even his political friends being openly critical of his interventions.

For more news and expert analysis about Algeria, please see Algeria Focus and Algeria Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Niger presidential run-off vote fair and peaceful

Niger has set an example to the rest of Africa during the second round of presidential elections, which were peaceful and free from State interference. The vote, overseen by 2,000 observers from the African Union, regional economic bloc Ecowas, the EU and US, saw voters choose between Mahamadou Issoufou and Seini Oumarou.

The interim military rule helped organise the vote a year after ousting former president Mamadou Tandja. The army, which has pledged to step down in April, said it was not backing either candidate and would respect and serve the government elected by the people.

EU monitoring chief, Santiago Fisas, said the election was a "victory of the people of Niger". He added: "It is an example of how to come again to democracy in peace."

African Union head Khalifa Babacar Sall called the voting process "free, transparent and peaceful”. Speaking on national television president of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abdourahamane Ghousmane, said provisional overall results of the second round will be known by Monday 14th March.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.

Niger presidential election to end military rule

Voting has began, in Niger's capital city of Niamey, for presidential and parliamentary elections, which are expected to return the country to civilian rule after a military coup ousted President Mamadou Tandja in February 2010.

The country's 6.7 million registered voters will select between 10 presidential candidates, one of whom is the first female presidential hopeful, and will vote in 116 legislative elections across the country.

Opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou and two former prime ministers, Seini Oumarou and Hama Amadou, are seen as the favourites. The latter two served under Tandja, who was removed for seeking a third term and is currently in prison for alleged corruption.

A candidate needs more than 50 per cent of the vote to be elected in the first round; with 10 people in the running, a run-off is seen as likely.

The country's military ruler, Gen Salou Djibo, cast his vote early, saying that the presidential election will be "a new start for Niger" and called on the country to go to the polls, adding: "This new start should allow the authorities, freely elected by the people, to devote themselves to the development of Niger”.

Local and regional elections, held on 11th January, were marred by logistical problems, including difficulties delivering voter materials, but leader of a polling station in the capital Hamidou Galadi, said this time, "all the material is in place…we are missing nothing," and assured a peaceful turnout.

Sources: BBC News, The Canadian Press, Bloomberg, AP

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.