Niger coup

DW: What happened on Thursday?

Zainab: Thursday evening the military announced at a press conference in the capital Niamey that they had taken over the leadership of Niger. They announced also the set-up of a committee to restore democracy and the suspension of the constitution. In the hours preceding there had been a lot of shooting.

People heard shots around the presidential palace, but nobody could go there because soldiers had barricaded the entire area. It was said, though unofficially, that the president and his ministers were meeting when the shooting started. It seems the shooting took place between the military and the security guards of the presidential palace.

Did the coup come as a surprise?

It was a complete surprise, especially because it happened immediately after an ECOWAS meeting, the economic organisation of West-African states, which had appointed the president of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade as intermediary in the crisis that has engulfed Niger for the past year.

Niger's President Tandja Mamadou, who is held now by the military, was elected for two terms and wanted to change the constitution in order to be able to stay in power. There was a referendum last year and according to the outcome the majority of the Nigerians wanted the constitution amended in such a way that the president could continue. Thereupon the opposition boycotted parliamentary elections in October.

Is the military a tool in the hands of the opposition?

I would not say so. Though the opposition may be happy of what is happening, this is not the best solution to the crisis, because the government and the opposition should have solved their problem instead of giving a chance again for the military to take over, which means going back to square one. It means drawing back the poorest country in West-Africa backwards, because nobody knows what is going to happen now.

So there is no hope that the military may be able to restore law and order?

Really, if you look at Niger, it is among the few West African countries, where law and order are being maintained. Despite the political crisis I cannot say that there is no law and order in Niger. It has been one of the African countries, where somehow democracy is being respected. So I don't think the military is a solution.

How is France, the former colonial power, reacting? And what do the African neighbors say?

Well, there are rumours that France has a hand in the military take-over - which has not really been confirmed. So it wouldn't be right to accuse France of anything now. ECOWAS too has been suspected. As we are speaking an ECOWAS delegation is on its way to Niamey to try to persuade the military to restore at least the democratic constitution.

What is the situation like in Niger the day after the coup?

Everything is calm. Some people are staying indoors, because they don't know what might follow. There also is a curfew. People are only allowed to come out from 6 am till 6 pm. All borders, both land and air, have been closed. But apart from that most people are going about their businesses.

What about Europeans in the country?

You know Niger is a former French colony. So there are lots of activities of France taking place there. The embassy in Niamey has ordered all French citizens to remain indoors. But there is no violence, that requires foreigners to leave. In any case the borders have been closed.

What do we know about the fate of President Tandja Mamadou?

He was taken captive, but nobody knows where he is exactly. Reports are saying that he is somewhere in one of the military barracks outside of the capital together with some of his ministers, who were with him when he was arrested.

Interview: Patrick Vanhulle
Editor: Rob Mudge