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African Union to impose sanctions against Niger

20 February 2010 15:29 (UTC +04:00)

Niamey â€“ APA. The African Union has suspended Niger’s membership a day after the coup, APA reports. The African Union Peace and Security Council said the organization condemned the coup that ousted President Mamadou Tandja and warned to impose sanctions next month. Demonstrators gathered in Nigerâ€™s capital Niamey to show support for the countryâ€™s coup. The rally was â€œa sign of support for the army,â€ according to Hadj Maman Hamissou, the president of Coordination of the Civil Society of Niger, one of the bodies that helped to initiate the coup. Salou Djibo, the military leader, suspended the West African countryâ€™s constitution and dissolved government institutions on Feb. 18 after arresting President Mamadou Tandja, who had ruled since 1999. Tandja dissolved parliament in May and assumed emergency powers after the Constitutional Court rejected his call for a referendum to change the constitution and eliminate term limits. In July, he disbanded the court after it ruled a third time against his plans to serve a third term.