Niger Opposition Leader Says Ex-President Tandja Should Face Treason Charges

A leading member of Niger’s opposition coalition says the group will soon meet the new military junta after it Tuesday named Mahamadou Danda as Prime Minister in a transitional government.

23 February 2010

TV frame grab shows Colonel Gokoye Abdul Karimou, spokesman for the Niger millitary junta delivering a televised statement in Niamey, 19 Feb 2010

A leading member of Niger’s opposition coalition says the group will soon meet the new military junta after it Tuesday named Mahamadou Danda as Prime Minister in a transitional government.

Bazoum Mohammed said the group will demand that ex-President Tandja be charged with high treason in accordance with Article 42 of Niger’s constitution.

“Maybe we will have a meeting with them tomorrow or after tomorrow. I’m not sure when it will happen, but I think that it will be very soon,” he said.

Last Thursday, mutinous soldiers attacked the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey while former President Tandja was reportedly chairing a cabinet meeting.

Ex-President Tandja was ousted last Thursday.

The soldiers detained the former leader along with a majority of his cabinet ministers although most of them have since been released.

Mohammed said the former president should be punished to serve as a deterrent for contravening the constitution.