Election Tracker

At stake: National Assembly

Background

Niger became independent from France in 1960. The country’s first years of sovereign rule were affected by a drought and political instability, which included coups and political assassinations.

In 1990, members of the Tuareg ethnic group began an anti-government campaign, accusing the administration of failing to deliver on its promises of economic aid and development. The protest evolved into armed conflict, which ended with a peace settlement in 1997.

In 1999, voters supported the country’s new constitution, which re-instated a multi-party system. In 2000, retired lieutenant-colonel Mamadou Tandja of the National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) won the presidential election in a run-off over Mahamadou Issoufou of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS). The MNSD also elected 38 legislators to the National Assembly.

Tandja’s career began in 1974, when he participated in a coup launched by Seyni Kountche to topple the government of Doni Hamani. Tandja finished second in the presidential elections held in 1993 and 1996.

Niger relies heavily on uranium exports, and has been classified by the United Nations (UN) as one of the poorest nations in the world. As of 2008, Niger’s per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $700 U.S.

In the lead-up to the 2003 war in Iraq, United States president George W. Bush mentioned in his State of the Union address that Saddam Hussein’s regime allegedly tried to acquire uranium from Niger. The information was later deemed faulty.

President Tandja was heavily favoured to secure a second five-year term in the 2004 election. His government had focused mostly on infrastructure improvements. Once again, Mahamadou Issoufou became Tandja’s main rival in the presidential ballot.

Tandja won the first round with 40.7 per cent of the vote, and Issoufou came in second with 24.6 per cent. Since no candidate garnered more than 50 percent of all cast ballots, a run-off was scheduled for Dec. 4, along with the country’s parliamentary elections.

Tandja won the second round with 65.53 per cent of all cast ballots. In the parliamentary ballot, final results gave a coalition of parties including the governing MNSD a majority in the 113-seat National Assembly.

International monitors from the United States, Europe and Africa said the election was held in accordance with international standards.

Click here for Niger’s 2004 Presidential and National Assembly Election Tracker

In 2005, the world turned its eyes on Niger as a severe drought accompanied by a locust infestation threatened the lives of more than 3 million people. As the UN raised the alarm on the dreadful situation, Tandja dismissed the concerns calling them "propaganda" by political opponents.

In 2007, Nigerien prime minister Hama Amadou stepped down following a non-confidence vote. Some members of Amadou’s cabinet were accused of embezzling Ministry of Education funds. Former trade minister Seyni Oumarou was appointed to succeed Amadou.

Also in 2007, Niger saw an outbreak of violence in the north as Tuareg armed groups began a new wave of insurgency against the government. Tuareg tribes, formerly nomadic, have been waiting for years to achieve a full integration with national armies in Niger and Mali.

The Tuareg armed groups—the Movement of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ) and the breakaway Front of Forces for a Recovery (FFR)—have called for the end of a state of emergency imposed on northern Niger by Tandja in 2007.

2009 Legislative Election

The legislative election in Niger will take place amidst a constitutional crisis. In early May, Nigerien president Mamadou Tandja of the National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) said he would call a national referendum seeking to overturn a law which prevents him from running for re-election. His term was supposed to end later this year.

If the referendum is successful, Tandja would extend his term for three years and oversee the drafting of a new Constitution. The president wants Niger’s political structure to change from a semi-presidential system to a full presidential system, saying that the power of the head of state is currently limited. The new Constitution would scrap presidential term limits and create a bicameral legislature.

Opposition lawmakers and members of Tandja’s own MNSD voiced criticism against the referendum, and asked the country’s Constitutional Court to rule on whether the president could call the vote. On May 25, the Court said in a non-binding ruling that the president is allowed to hold referenda only if the vote does not seek to alter the Constitution.

On May 26, Tandja dissolved the legislature, said his government would rule by decree and vowed to go a head with the referendum, which would take place on Aug. 4.

Legislative elections would follow on Aug. 20. According to the country’s electoral calendar, the ballot was to take place in November, but once the legislature is dissolved elections must take place within the next three months.

On Jun. 12, the Constitutional Court ruled against Tandja’s proposed referendum. This ruling was binding by nature. Tandja reacted to the decision by assuming "special powers" claiming that the "independence of the nation was threatened."

Moumouni Hamidou, chairman of the Niger National Independent Election Commission (CENI)—a 66 member decentralized organization which operates and certifies all democratic processes in the country—said that the group would not organize the referendum vote but would focus on carrying out the legislative elections in late August instead.

On Jun. 28, Nigerien interior minister Albade Abouba said the referendum would take place on Aug. 4 no matter what, and declared: "The elections will very well take place, starting with the referendum. The CENI cannot reject the referendum. Its job is solely to organize and supervise the elections."

On Aug. 4, the referendum was held, despite the binding ruling of the Constitutional Court. Official results released on Aug. 7 stated that 68.26 per cent of registered voters took part, and 92.5 per cent supported the constitutional amendments.

Mahamadou Issoufou of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) expressed dismay, and pledged to "resist and fight against this coup d’etat enacted by Tandja and against his aim of installing a dictatorship in our country."

On Aug. 19, Tandja announced the end of emergency rule, and re-scheduled the general election for Oct. 20. Under the terms of the new constitution, Tandja can remain president and seek a new term in the ballot scheduled for October 2010.

On Sept. 26, Niger’s leading opposition parties—assembled as the Coordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic (FRDC)—announced that they would boycott the election because it was organized “on the basis of the new constitution.”

Voting took place on Oct. 20. On that same day, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Niger’s membership as a protest against its decision to hold the election.

On Oct. 21, Niger’s foreign minister Aichatou Mindaoudou declared: “ECOWAS has misunderstood the political situation in our country and we will continue the dialogue with the organization so that it reconsiders its position.”

Final results released on Oct. 24 gave the ruling National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) 76 of the 113 seats at stake. Turnout was tabled at 51.27 per cent.

Political Players

President: Mamadou Tandja - MNSD
Prime minister: Seyni Oumarou – MNSD

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly) has 113 members, elected to five-year terms. At least 10 per cent of all seats must be held by women.

Results of Last Election:

President - Nov. 16 and Dec. 4, 2004

National Assembly - Oct. 20, 2009