6 senior opposition Moden party members remanded in custody and charged with “violating the security of the state” following late May arrest of 40 militants; others released 31 May and 3 June. Opposition coalition 10 June called for ECOWAS mediation to solve political crisis; 15 June led peaceful anti-govt protest in Niamey. 59 of 72 Niamey University students arrested 20 May released 11 June, strike suspended.

Opposition Democratic Movement (MODEN) leader Hama Amadou 2 May requested Supreme Court settle dispute over his position after representatives of President Issoufou’s ruling coalition argued Hama cannot remain National Assembly president; court 9 May confirmed Hama to remain assembly president until next presidential or legislative election. Govt 25 May reportedly arrested 40 opposition members close to Hama, including Hama’s son, for plotting regime’s overthrow, also announced closure of pro-opposition daily Le Courrier; authorities 30 May imposed ban on opposition demonstrations. Hama 31 May alleged unidentified people attempted to bribe his staff to assassinate him. Boko Haram members 6 May reportedly attacked army patrol in Diffa region.

Govt 9 April extradited 10 senior Libyan officials of former Qadhafi regime. Humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate; UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Sahel warned of looming food crisis, urged international community to provide more financial support.

Agadez police 7 March released NGO umbrella group Committee for Renewal and Innovation (CRI) coordinator and SG, arrested with 8 others following 21 Feb demonstration against permanent ban on public protests. Agadez mayor again banned planned CRI demonstration 5 March. U.S. sponsored military exercises “Flintlock 2014” in N and E, for capacity-building in fight against terrorism, drug trafficking. Refugee influx from N Nigeria continued; UNHCR said 40,000 concentrated in Diffa region, expressed concern about possible infiltrations by Boko Haram militants.

Regime cracked down on media: govt briefly arrested 3 radio journalists 13 Feb following interview with union leader Ismael Salifou, accused trio of using “offensive language” against President Issoufou. Justice Minister Marou Amadou warned he would not tolerate media “abuses”, which he claimed “foment ethnic hatred”. Agadez police 20 Feb arrested 20 protesters, 2 local civil society leaders 26 Feb. Authorities 17 Feb arrested some 20 Boko Haram militants suspected of planning attacks in SE. Interior minister 5 Feb called on France and U.S. to intervene in southern Libya to “eradicate terrorist threat”.

Protests in Niamey over living standards continued; several journalists detained late Jan. Security operation along Mali-Niger border to deter MUJAO from using zone launched mid-Jan by French military in cooperation with Malian and Nigerien forces. Authorities 25-27 Jan detained 4 journalists for alleging President Issoufou is corrupt.

French forces in Mali late Nov arrested Cheibani Ould Hama, who escaped from Niamey prison during June attack by Islamist militants; extradition expected. Police late Nov arrested man linked to Cheïbani allegedly preparing terrorist attacks in Niamey. Govt, AREVA still negotiating renewal of contracts over uranium extraction, which expire end-Dec; over 1,000 protested in Niamey 21 Dec demanding AREVA pay more taxes.

Security forces 17 Nov dismantled vast human trafficking network after death of 92 migrants in Sahara late Oct. EU 12 Nov announced General Francisco Espinosa Navas, former head of capacity-building mission “EUCAP Sahel Niger”, will be replaced by Filip De Ceuninck.

Main political parties remain divided over participation in new national unity govt; new parliament opened 4 Oct but composition of presidential majority remains unclear. Main opposition leaders, including current National Assembly president Hama Amadou, 5 Oct formed coalition Republican Alliance for Democracy and Reconciliation (ARDR). Demonstrators 15 Oct gathered in Arlit to protest French Mining Company Areva’s lack of investments and impact on environment. AQIM 29 Oct released 4 French hostages abducted 2010, allegedly in return for immunity for Mali Ansar Dine leader Iyad ag Ghali. At least 87 migrants found dead near Algerian border 30 Oct.

Security forces clashed violently with narco-trafficking armed groups in Tenere valley, near Libya-Algeria border 3-4 Sept. FM Mohamed Bazoum 18 Sept stated country would welcome presence of U.S. armed drones on its territory to fight terrorists and drug trafficking. Mauritanian news agency ANI 16 Sept released AQIM video showing 4 Frenchmen abducted in Niger in 2010.