The West African state of Niger heads to the polls on Monday, almost a year after the army took power in a coup d’état against then President Mamadou Tandja. Voters will choose between three of his political allies and one opponent.
In Sudan, the head of the Islamist opposition Hassan al-Tourabi has been arrested after he called for a Tunisia-style uprising. Nigerian leader Goodluck Jonathan wins his party's nomination for president ahead of April's elections. And a book about a forgotten war: "Kamerun!" tells the story of a 15-year-long struggle against French colonial rule.
Niger's new military leaders, who seized power earlier this week, promised international envoys a new constitution and a 'quick' return to democracy, without setting a date. Thousands demonstrated on Sunday to show support for the junta.
Niger's military junta, which seized power in a coup this week, announced plans for upcoming elections on Saturday, but did not specify a date. A spokesperson for the junta also said that all of deposed president Tandja's ministers have been freed.
A crowd of around 10,000 rallied in Niamey on Saturday, cheering the military coup which ousted president Mamadou Tandja who had tweaked the constitution, allowing him to stay in power beyond the previous 10-year-limit.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has condemned the coup that toppled Niger's president even as thousands celebrated the end of Mamadou Tandja's rule in the country's capital Niamey.
A day after a coup d'état removed President Mamadou Tandja from power, the African Union has imposed sanctions on Niger. Meanwhile witnesses reported that thousands of people took to the streets on Friday to express their support for the soldiers.
Niger’s new junta has dissolved President Mamadou Tandja’s government and vowed to "restore democracy and good governance", a day after toppling the unpopular leader in a violent coup.
Members of Niger's armed forces have ousted President Mamadou Tandja and dissolved all state institutions after a gun battle in the capital of the impoverished central African country.
