By Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews Abidjan, Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST: The European Union said it will sever ties with Niger if constitutional order is not restored in the country, following the controversial parliamentary elections held Tuesday writes AfricaNews Saturday.
The EU is Niger’s main aid donor and has allocated 450 million Euros to that country under the 10th European Fund for Development.
EU commissioner for development aid and humanitarian assistance, Karel de Gucht said “We await political consultations with Niger, if they yield absolutely nothing, we’ll make a ruling,” speaking to Radio France International (RFI) on Thursday.
The EU had asked Niger to delay Tuesday polls, which was boycotted by the opposition, to give dialogue a chance, but President Mamadou Tandja went ahead with the vote.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Niger from its ranks on Wednesday after it forged ahead with the polls despite orders for a delay.
Tandja dissolved parliament and constitutional court in June in order to proceed with his plans to change the constitution that limited a president to only two five-year terms.
Results from the Tuesday parliamentary elections are to be announced Sunday.
