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Political Figure Pleads for International Funding for Niger Vote

   Peter Clottey 04 July 2010
   The  head of the junta in Niger, Major Salou Djibo, who took over in a
   February  18,  2010 coup that toppled President Mamadou Tandja, 24 Feb
   2010 (file photo)

Photo: AFP

   The  head of the junta in Niger, Major Salou Djibo, who took over in a
   February  18,  2010 coup that toppled President Mamadou Tandja, 24 Feb
   2010 (file photo)

   A  prominent  member of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
   (PNDS-Tarayya), has called on the international community to help fund
   the presidential election scheduled for 3^rd January 2011.

   Bazoum  Mohammed said the military junta is incapable of providing all
   the funds needed for the election, which he said could seriously delay
   Nigerâs much anticipated transition to constitutional rule.

   âWe  have  to look for 27 billion francs with our external partners. I
   think  that  it  is  a  big  challenge and we will have to call to our
   partners  to  find  this  fund. Otherwise, we will have a delay and we
   donât politically need it (the delay),â he said.

   Nigerâs  Independent  Electoral  Commission  (CENI)  said  it needs 30
   billion francs ($57,333,026) to organize next yearâs election.

   But,  the  military junta said it can only provide 3 billion francs ($
   5,733,302) out of the 30 billion needed for the vote.

   The   electoral   commission   announced  Sunday  that  the  countryâs
   presidential  and  legislative  elections will be held on 3^rd January
   next year.

   The electoral body also said the run-off will be held on 14^th January
   if  none  of  the  presidential  aspirants wins over 50 percent of the
   total vote cast.

   Mohammed  said there is a need for the international community to help
   fund next yearâs vote.

   âWe  have  to  call  our  partners,  the  European  Union,  UNDP (U.N.
   Development  Program),  U.S.A  (United  States)  and  even  some other
   countries  like Japan, and ECOWAS, (Economic Community of West African
   States)  (and)  African  Union.  Everybody has to be mobilized to help
   this  fund  because  we  have to go out of this military rule and this
   transition,â Mohammed said.

   Officials  of  Nigerâs  electoral  commission were sworn in last month
   tasked  with  organizing the elections and to ensure the winner of the
   presidential  vote  will be sworn in by 1^st March 2011, as stipulated
   in recommendations by the National Consultative Council.

   The  swearing in of the new president will effectively end the rule of
   the  military  government  that  overthrew  former  President  Mamadou
   Tandja. Mr. Tandja came under international criticism after he changed
   the constitution that removed term limits.

   Nigerâs  military  junta  set  up the National Consultative Council to
   help the countryâs transition to constitutional rule.

   Led  by  opposition  leader Marou Amadou, the Consultative Council has
   131  members drawn from political parties, trade unions, civil society
   groups and security forces.

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