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Current Feed ContentAreva wins Niger uranium licenceThe French nuclear energy group Areva has been awarded a licence to build and operate the Imouraren mine in Niger. Areva says it expects it to become Africa's biggest uranium mine and the second biggest in the world. Mining will begin on the site in 2012, with 1,400 staff producing 5,000 tonnes a year.Niger: 2 Canadian Diplomats MissingTwo Canadian diplomats working for the United Nations in Niger have been missing since Sunday night, United Nations officials said Monday. A car that had been carrying the diplomats — Robert Fowler, the United Nations’ special envoy to Niger, and Louis Guay, his assistant — and that bore lettering identifying it as a United Nations vehicle was found abandoned about 30 miles northeast of Niamey, the capital. The driver was also missing. Mr. Fowler served previously as Canada’s ambassador to...Niger ALERT: Two Journalists in prison for defamationMoussa Aksar, managing editor and Sani Aboubacar, reporter of L’Evénement, an independent weekly newspaper were on November 12, 2008 detained at the Civil Prison in Niamey for allegedly defaming Foukori Ibrahim, Manging Director of the Electricity Company of Niger (NIGELEC). The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the journalists were arrested after making an appearance before the Prosecutor at the Niamey Magistrate Court to answer defamation charges brought...NIGER UPDATE : Journalist refused bailZakari Alzouma, editor of Opinions, a Niamey-based independent weekly newspaper who was charged with defamation by the Minister of Public security, Albade Abouba, appeared before the High Court on November 3, 2008 but was refused bail. Media Foundation for west Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the prosecutor asked the court to adjourn the case to November 12, 2008 to enable prosecution prepare for the case. The journalist’s counsel thus applied for bail but the court rejected...Niger ALERT: Newspaper editor in detention for defamationZakari Alzouma, editor of Opinions, a Niamey-based independent weekly newspaper, is being held by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Niger police following his arrest on October 29, 2008. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported the editor is expected to appear before a High Court on November 3, to answer defamation charges brought against him by the Minister of Public Security, Albadé Abouba. The correspondent said the editor had alleged in an...French section of MSF forced to leave NigerMSF calls on the Niger Government, UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP) to take action in Maradi and ensure that malnourished children receive treatment to the extent. On July 18, 2008, the Niger government terminated, suddenly and without explanation, the medical and nutritional activities of the French section of MSF in the Maradi region. This decision has had grave consequences on mortality among young children. Over the last three months, MSF has made every effort to determine the...SAHEL: Voices from clandestinityThe International Organization for Migration estimates that up to 35,000 sub-Saharan clandestine migrants leave for North Africa and Europe every year. But researchers concede the near impossibility to track what is carried out in secrecy, facilitated by family connections and favours, bribes and beatings. Despite increased security crackdowns and forced mass expulsions by North African security forces, thousands of West African migrants still attempt the desert crossing from northern Niger...MSF calls upon the President of Niger to lift the ban on its activities immediatelyThree months after Nigerien authorities suspended the activities of the French section of MSF, the organization is calling for an immediate resumption of its nutritional operations in Maradi. "The situation in the field is very troubling," said Dr. Marie-Pierre Allié, MSF's President in France. "Despite all their efforts, the health care staff in the hospitals and health centers I visited cannot respond to the influx of malnourished children." When MSF's work was suspended, nearly 3,400...NIGER: Freddy Kasseri, “Migrants are dying out here”Freddy Kasseri, 23, travelled from Ghana to Niger intending to cross the desert into Libya. He did not make it. Libyan security forces return migrants via land to a military post in northern Niger, where the migrants are turned over to Nigerien soldiers. Kasseri was transferred 650km to Agadez, where he is working to save money for a second attempt. “I want to go to Libya, continue to Italy and maybe reach Canada. I want to be rich and in Ghana, there is work, but it is all small jobs. You...WEST AFRICA: Migrants risk all to cross desertSub-Saharan migrants continue attempting dangerous and illegal crossings into Libya and Algeria. They pick their way through Niger’s Air mountains, circumventing a mountain rebellion, increased mountain banditry, and North African border crackdowns, according to migrants and smugglers in Niger’s mountain gateway town of Agadez. Freddy Kasseri, a 22-year-old Ghanaian migrant, told IRIN he regretted leaving Ghana in search of work when his truck was stopped on 12 August 2008, 500km from Agadez,... |
