- Niger’s trade unions have said the push for a referendum by President Mamadou Tandja to change the Nigerien Constitution is fueling democratic instability in the west African State.
The Constitutional Court's rejection on 25 May for a referendum to allow President Tandja to seek a third term in government has seen the government and opposition parties at each other throats as the President is stubbornly pushing forwards the referendum.
A statement from the International Trade Union Confederation has called on President Tandja to immediately restore constitutional order, to respect the rulings of the Constitutional Court and to abandon the plans to hold a referendum.
"Full respect for trade union rights is an absolute necessity in this country, as in the whole of Africa," said General Secretary of the ITUC, Guy Ryder in a statement.
Last Thursday, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon also said the recent heightened political tension in Niger is a cause for concern following President Mamadou Tandja decision to dissolved Niger’s Parliament on 26 May.
Niger’s opposition parties have been angered by President Tandja's decision to dissolve the parliament hours after the constitutional court rejected his plan to hold a referendum on extending his term in office.
President Tandja's second term is set to expire this year, but the government has been lobbying for constitutional changes to allow him to contest the November election.
The constitution bans him from standing again in the elections scheduled for December 2009, but he has said he would willingly stay in power if the people want to give him another term.
According to the constitution, a new parliament will now have to be elected within three months, but there was no immediate presidential announcement on a new election date.
The 70 years old leader was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2004.
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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