Mon Mar 1, 2010
Niger's new military ruler Salou Djibo says that millions of his countrymen are threatened by famine.
Addressing the nation on state television Sunday, Djibo said all means were urgently being deployed to tackle the famine, which "threatens the existence of millions of Nigeriens in virtually all regions."
This comes as an official report leaked to a Nigerien newspaper in January said that more than half of Niger's 15 million people would face food shortages this year.
Aid agencies are also bracing for food shortages and acute malnutrition after poor rains last year.
This is while the government of then President Mamadou Tandja continuously reassured the public that the country was not facing any food shortages.
The subject was of extreme sensitivity to the ousted leader after he was strongly criticized, both domestically and internationally, for his mishandling of a devastating famine in 2005.
This along with Tandja's altering of the Constitution of the country in August, which allowed him to remain in power indefinitely, triggered the February 18 military coup, leading to his ouster.
The coup has been well received in the West African nation, but the international community has slammed the political shake-up, calling for a return to civilian rule.
Djibo has so far vowed to restore democracy in Niger, but has given no date for the elections.
Djibo also said the junta was committed to tackling impunity, corruption and the abuse of power during an unspecified transitional period before the promised elections.
Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119755§ionid=351020506.
Niger's new military ruler Salou Djibo says that millions of his countrymen are threatened by famine.
Addressing the nation on state television Sunday, Djibo said all means were urgently being deployed to tackle the famine, which "threatens the existence of millions of Nigeriens in virtually all regions."
This comes as an official report leaked to a Nigerien newspaper in January said that more than half of Niger's 15 million people would face food shortages this year.
Aid agencies are also bracing for food shortages and acute malnutrition after poor rains last year.
This is while the government of then President Mamadou Tandja continuously reassured the public that the country was not facing any food shortages.
The subject was of extreme sensitivity to the ousted leader after he was strongly criticized, both domestically and internationally, for his mishandling of a devastating famine in 2005.
This along with Tandja's altering of the Constitution of the country in August, which allowed him to remain in power indefinitely, triggered the February 18 military coup, leading to his ouster.
The coup has been well received in the West African nation, but the international community has slammed the political shake-up, calling for a return to civilian rule.
Djibo has so far vowed to restore democracy in Niger, but has given no date for the elections.
Djibo also said the junta was committed to tackling impunity, corruption and the abuse of power during an unspecified transitional period before the promised elections.
Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119755§ionid=351020506.
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