After ECOWAS, EU to cut ties with Niger

  1. Posted on Friday 23 October 2009 - 09:00
    KingsleyKobo
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    Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
    The European Union said it will sever ties with Niger if constitutional order is not restored in the country, following the controversial parliamentary elections held Tuesday. The EU is Niger's main aid donor and has allocated 450 million Euros to that country under the 10th European Fund for Development.
    Tandja
    EU commissioner for development aid and humanitarian assistance, Karel de Gucht said “We await political consultations with Niger, if they yield absolutely nothing, we'll make a ruling,” speaking to Radio France International (RFI) on Thursday.

    The EU had asked Niger to delay Tuesday polls, which was boycotted by the opposition, to give dialogue a chance, but President Mamadou Tandja went ahead with the vote.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Niger from its ranks on Wednesday after it forged ahead with the polls despite orders for a delay.

    Niger’s foreign minister, Aichatou Mindaoudou told reporters in Niamey (capital) on Wednesday that the “European Union has expressed concern over the postponement of elections, but it's like wanting to stop a train moving at 600 kilometres per hour.”

    Mindaoudou said her government and the EU had been in dialogue since March “centred on the so-called Cotonou Agreement,” which allows for the severing of ties in the event of non-compliance with democratic principles and respect of human rights.

    The EU has already frozen 180 million euros in budget aid to Niger in protest at the disputed August 4 constitutional referendum, which will allow Tandja to get more terms in office.

    Tandja dissolved parliament and constitutional court in June in order to proceed with his plans to change the constitution that limited a president to only two five-year terms.

    Results from the Tuesday parliamentary elections are to be announced by the weekend.

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