- Niger's president, Mamadou Tandja, has dissolved parliament a day after the constitutional court turned down his bid to extend his term.
The 70 years old Mr Tandja, was elected to the presidency in 1999 and had promised to quit at the end of his term later this year, but sommersaulted, even trying to hold a referendum to confirm him for a third term, claiming wide support from the Niger people.
Political observers have said the move by the president could mean an eventual take over of a dictatorship and a possible cancellation of the elections expected in November this year.
President Mamadou Tandja of Niger is planning for a referendum over a constitutional amendment that would allow him to run candidate for a third presidential term in elections on 14 November. Many Nigeriens are shocked, saying he "swore on the Koran" to step down in December this year.
In January, Niger set the December deadline for the holding of general elections, with Prime Minister Seini Oumarou saying the vote for the local government would be held on 30 June and the national and presidential elections were to follow in November.
Political unrest evolved in the poor Sahelian country as President Tandja tried to move the Niamey parliament to change current legislation to allow for a third presidential term.
The President's plan, but also his arguments - widely seen as arrogant - have caused broad rejection within Niger's political establishment. Mr Tandja argues that, with the foundation he has laid for Niger's economic development, he needs to follow up on the process to assure no mistakes are made and to secure maximum benefit from initiated programmes.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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