Former Nigerien Rebel Leader Dismissed From His Party’s Leadership

The former Touareg rebel leader and chair of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) was deposed from his position, after he recently swore allegiance to the rebellion led by the “Mouvement des Nigériens pour Justice” (MNJ), active in the north of the country.

Rhissa Ag Boula, who also founded the Liberation Front of Aïr and Azawak (FLAA), was Minister of Tourism and Crafts from 1997 to 2004 before he became the leader of the UDPS after resigning from MNSD, the party of President Mamadou Tandja.

According to UDPS, a predominantly Touareg party, the allegations of its former leader on some media “do in no way commit the party, which remains loyal to its commitments, namely its belonging to the Alliance of the Democratic Forces of the Republic (AFD/R).”

The executive committee of the party in a statement copied to APA Friday disclosed that the leadership of UDPS now rests upon the vice-chairman, Elhadj Issouf Baco, while reasserting its “attachment to democracy, and respect for the constitution of Niger”.

As a historical leader of the Touareg rebellion in the 1990’s, Rhisa Ag Boula announced in an interview to the French paper “Le Nouvel Observater” on January 31 the “launch of an offensive” against mines, industries and uranium convoys in northern Niger.

“They cannot tap the uranium without us (…) We shall attack the uranium mines, including those of Areva in a bid to stop the operation of factories, the exploitation of new quarries and take care of the busloads along the way to the sea”, he said in his interview.

On February 3rd, the citizen movement of Niger bemoaned these declarations, while urging France to extradite the former rebel leader against whom the movement requested an international arrest warrant, as well as the withdrawal of his Nigerien passport.

Source African Press Agency

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