NIAMEY: Thousands of people marched in Niger’s capital of Niamey on Saturday against the government of President Mahamadou Issoufou, calling for improved living conditions and the release of “political prisoners.”
The west African country has been buffeted by falling prices for both oil and uranium, two of its main exports, as it struggles against jihadist attacks.
Protesters flooded the streets of Niamey chanting anti-regime slogans before holding a meeting in front of parliament, where they shouted “Life is too hard” and “Leave, that’s enough.”
The march was called by an alliance of 11 opposition groups.
“This mobilization is additional proof that we have had enough,” said Soumana Sanda, a former health minister who is now an MP for the Nigerien Democratic Movement (MODEN).
“Instead of taking care of our citizens’ problems, they’re more interested in taking care of their own affairs,” he said.
MODEN is the party of Hama Amadou, who lost a run-off election against Issoufou last March.
That vote that was boycotted by the opposition after Amadou was jailed on charges of baby trafficking, which he claims are politically motivated.
The demonstrators also called for the release of “political prisoners,” referring to several senior government figures arrested by the regime, some in connection with a failed coup in December 2015, others accused of embezzling public funds.
They also condemned the French, German and US military bases in the country, calling them a “liquidation of the country’s sovereignty.”
Niger’s government says the bases are necessary for combatting the jihadist threat, in particular in Mali and Libya.
UN Security Council envoys are currently on a mission to the Lake Chad region, including a visit to Niamey, to focus global attention on the humanitarian emergency triggered by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Thousands protest in Niger as pressure on gov’t mounts
Thousands protest in Niger as pressure on gov’t mounts
