Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Niger to protest President Mamadou Tandja's plan for a new constitution that would abolish term limits and give him more power after 10 years as president. Tandja has also dissolved a high court that ruled against his bid to remain in office, dismissed a fractious Parliament, shut down a critical radio and TV station, and arrested opposition leaders. Opposition leader Mohamadou Issoufou calls the plan "a coup d’état in its first phase." (NYT, July 13)

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

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