Niger's President Mamadou Tandja dissolved parliament May 25, a day after the constitutional court turned down his bid to extend his term. Tandja, 70, was elected in 1999 and had promised to quit at the end of his term later this year, but flipped, even trying to hold a referendum to confirm him for a third term, claiming wide support from Niger's people. In January, Niger set a December deadline for general elections. The opposition warns of a step towards dictatorship. (Afrol News, May 26)

See our last posts on Niger and the struggle in the Sahel.