Defend Truth

West African bloc suspends Niger over election

By Incorrect Author
21 Oct 2009
0

It had to happen. Fresh from slapping an arms embargo on troubled Guinea, where troops killed up to 200 people in street demonstrations last month, West Africa's trade bloc Ecowas has suspended Niger after its president, Mamadou Tandja, went ahead with a parliamentary election that he hopes will see his rule extended. Guinea coup leader, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, in trying to do a similar thing, brought 50,000 people on to the streets in protest. Ecowas doesn’t want to see a repeat of that in Niger, and wants Tandja to postpone the vote indefinitely to allow talks with opposition parties, who boycotted the election. He had earlier dissolved parliament and changed the constitution to allow him to seek a third term. Turnout for the Niger election was slow. Tandja wants to oversee multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects in the uranium-exporting country.

Gallery

Top Reads This Hour

Families seek clarity on travel with Zimbabwean Exemption Permits after extension
Africa

Families seek clarity on travel with Zimbabwean Exemption Permits after extension
Residents advised to limit outdoor activities amidst city’s extreme air pollution, and more from around the world
Maverick Life

Residents advised to limit outdoor activities amidst city’s extreme air pollution, and more from around the world
SA under-19 cricket captain David Teeger cleared of any wrongdoing over Israel comments
South Africa

SA under-19 cricket captain David Teeger cleared of any wrongdoing over Israel comments
David Teeger will captain SA under-19 at home Cricket World Cup next year
Maverick News

David Teeger will captain SA under-19 at home Cricket World Cup next year
SANDF says issues of torture did not form basis of inquiry, denies existence of military ‘death squad’
Maverick News

SANDF says issues of torture did not form basis of inquiry, denies existence of military ‘death squad’

TOP READS IN SECTION

SA under-19 cricket captain David Teeger cleared of any wrongdoing over Israel comments
South Africa

SA under-19 cricket captain David Teeger cleared of any wrongdoing over Israel comments
Dan Marokane expected to be appointed as new Eskom CEO
Maverick News

Dan Marokane expected to be appointed as new Eskom CEO
Residents advised to limit outdoor activities amidst city’s extreme air pollution, and more from around the world
Maverick Life

Residents advised to limit outdoor activities amidst city’s extreme air pollution, and more from around the world
ANC veteran of 60 years Mavuso Msimang ‘painfully' severs ties, tenders devastating resignation
Maverick News

ANC veteran of 60 years Mavuso Msimang ‘painfully' severs ties, tenders devastating resignation
NCOP passes NHI Bill in face of widespread condemnation by health professionals, business and opposition
Maverick News

NCOP passes NHI Bill in face of widespread condemnation by health professionals, business and opposition

Investigations

News & Analysis

Features

Newsletters

Community

DM168

Daily Maverick © All rights reserved

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

You’ll miss it when it’s gone...

It’s hard to imagine South Africa without journalism. Then again, it was unthinkable that we would be without electricity as much as we are. Daily Maverick is free to read. We don’t have a paywall because we believe that everyone, regardless of their financial status, should be able to access the news. Which gives our journalism a greater chance of broader impact on society.

If you agree that our work makes South Africa a better place (and want to see us keep doing it) then please consider joining Maverick Insider and supporting our journalism.

You choose the amount and you can cancel at any time.

JOIN THE CAUSE
Lightbulb
MavericKids vol 3

How can a child learn to read if they don't have a book?

81% of South African children aged 10 can't read for meaning. You can help by pre-ordering a copy of MavericKids.

For every copy sold we will donate a copy to Gift of The Givers for children in need of reading support.

A South African Hero: You

There’s a 99.8% chance that this isn’t for you. Only 0.2% of our readers have responded to this call for action.

Those 0.2% of our readers are our hidden heroes, who are fuelling our work and impacting the lives of every South African in doing so. They’re the people who contribute to keep Daily Maverick free for all, including you.

The equation is quite simple: the more members we have, the more reporting and investigations we can do, and the greater the impact on the country.

Be part of that 0.2%. Be a Maverick. Be a Maverick Insider.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options