afrol News, 22 October - The junta in Niger, which is leading a democratic transition in the country, confirms that the four top officers arrested last week had plotted a coup. New unrest in the junta leadership may jeopardise the upcoming elections.
Concerning news about internal conflicts with the malitary junta ruling Niger have increasingly leaked from the Sahelian country lately, raising the question whether its progressive leader, transitional President Salou Djibo, would be able to go through with the ambitious democratisation process.
Last week, four senior officers suddenly were fired from the junta and arrested. Yesterday, its Secret Service leader Seyni Chekaraou, one of President Djibo's top confidentials, was fired. Further purges seemed imminent.
Today, the Nigerien junta reveals that the arrests had their background in a coup plot that was to remove President Djibou and halt the democratic transition process.
Colonel Goukoye Abdoulkarim, the junta's press spokesman, said that it was "known for a long time" that "some officers of the National Armed Forces, have always opposed a return of our country to a democratic and constitutional order."
These elements, Colonel Abdoulkarim explained, had rejected any attempts to convince them of the democratic transition process, and rather started to plot against the junta leadership, "including an assault on the life of the President."
The plotting army officers had however been infiltrated and monitored constantly, the spokesman said. At no situation had there been any real dangers of a coup to succeed.
"The Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy assures our compatriots and all our development partners that the situation is under control and that the restoration of democracy in our country will not be halted by any negative or personal ambitions," Colonel Abdoulkarim assured.
The ruling junta had no plans at all to use the situation to delay or even call off the transition timetable. The referendum over a new constitution on 31 October and the elections for a new President and parliament - in January, if the new constitution is approved of - would follow the agreed timetable, the spokesman emphasised.
Indeed, reports from Niamey indicate that the capital is living a normal life without any tensions, with the exception of the election campaigns that started yesterday, according to schedule.
The unrest within the Nigerien military junta nevertheless has caused many analysts to ask how deeply rooted the democratisation process really is within the national army. And will all military officers respect the outcome of the January elections, when President Djibo steps down?
The current military leader, who stands by his announcement not to remain politically active after the elections, may be forced to stand behind the to-be-elected government as a guarantor if it turns out that a great portion of the armed forces oppose the election result.
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.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español