Niger: Opposition open to talks with gov't

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Brigi Rafini, members of the opposition in Niger are willing to engage in discussions with the government to avert the occurrence of a post-election crisis.

“We reiterated the availability of the opposition to go to a comprehensive dialogue, sincere and inclusive dialogue that supports all the questions we have raised,” those are the words of Malam Mahamane Sani, Secretary General of MODEN, the main opposition party led by Hama Amadou.

Mahamane Sani Malam was speaking on behalf of the opposition coalition group (COPA 2016), after a meeting with Prime Minister Brigi Rafini.

He also added that he is not about to set some technical issues, but to bring lasting solutions to the extremely difficult situation.

Following his re-election which the opposition disputes, President Mahamadou Issoufou has called for a national unity government. COPA 2016 did not specify what his position was in relation to this offer.

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou proposes national unity government with oppositionhttps://t.co/tsMvow9Alt pic.twitter.com/7LPOAdw9YO

— The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) March 23, 2016

COPA had a few days ago called on citizens to resist all the conditions of violence and chaos after calling for boycott of the second round polls which Issoufou won by a landslide.

According to COPA, they wanted a period of transition for keeping that would lead to the conduct of fresh, transparent and credible elections.

AFP