- Title: Niger opposition leader convicted of trying to incite coup
- Date: 6th June 2017
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (JUNE 6, 2017) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS CHEERING EL HADJ AMADOU DJIBO, HEAD OF THE COALITION OF OPPOSITION PARTIES, OUTSIDE PRISON SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) EL HADJ AMADOU DJIBO, HEAD OF THE COALTION OF OPPOSITION PARTIES, SAYING: "Today is a great day. You saw for yourselves in the various proceedings, the truth was all-apparent and not hidden. The decision of condemnation that you saw means that they want to muzzle democracy by condemning me to a three-month suspension. That would mean that I am condemned to silence for three months, but it is very difficult to condemn someone like me and silence him. It is clear that the struggle has just begun." DJIBO HOLDING UP PEACE SIGNS FROM HIS CAR COURTHOUSE EXTERIOR COALITION OF OPPOSITION PARTIES' LAWYER, DOULEUR OUMAROU (SOUNDBITE) (French) EL HADJ AMADOU DJIBO'S LAWYER, DOULEUR OUMAROU, SAYING: "By making this decision, it is obviously to stop, to prevent Max Djibo Ali (El Hadj Amadou Djibo) from making yet another manifestation on the grounds of a repeated offence. That's the goal - it is to silence him or at least silence the ideas or the parties he represents, just like what is already being done again in civil society." JOURNALISTS STANDING OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (French) ACTIVIST AND DJIBO SUPPORTER, ADAMA SEYNI, SAYING: "We believe in justice in Niger. And so today, we feel overjoyed, especially the FRDDR (Front for the Restoration of Democracy and the Defence of Democracy) activist. He's our president. He has just been released. We thank the FRDDR activists who acknowledge the burdens and concerns and have not stopped coming to lend their support to the president." STREET TRAFFIC
- Embargoed: 20th June 2017 21:11
- Keywords: FRDD Issoufou coup Niger Niamey
- Location: NIAMEY, NIGER
- City: NIAMEY, NIGER
- Country: Niger
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016K56CZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A court in Niger handed an opposition leader a three-month suspended sentence on Tuesday (June 6) for agitating for the overthrow of government.
El Hadj Amadou Djibo, the head of a coalition of opposition parties, was released from prison on Tuesday after being arrested last month for calling on his allies to remain united against President Mahamadou Issoufou and force him from power by all legal means available.
"Today is a great day. You saw for yourselves in the various proceedings, the truth was all-apparent and not hidden. The decision of condemnation that you saw means that they want to muzzle democracy by condemning me to a three-month suspension. That would mean that I am condemned to silence for three months, but it is very difficult to condemn someone like me and silence him. It is clear that the struggle has just begun."
In March, a court freed 15 civilians accused of complicity in an alleged December 2015 putsch against Issoufou. Nine military officers, including the alleged ringleader General Salou Souleymane, are still behind bars awaiting trial.
"We believe in justice in Niger. And so today, we feel overjoyed, especially the FRDDR (Front for the Restoration of Democracy and the Defence of Democracy) activist. He's our president. He has just been released. We thank the FRDDR activists who acknowledge the burdens and concerns and have not stopped coming to lend their support to the president," said Adama Seyni, an activist and Djibo supporter outside the court on Tuesday.
Issoufou has led Niger, a major uranium producer and Western ally against Islamists in the Sahara, since 2011. He won re-election in February 2016 in a run-off boycotted by the opposition, whose candidate had been jailed shortly before the first round. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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