Niger: civil society declaration on resuming participation in Niger EITI process

Noting the Niamey Court of Appeal’s decision to order the provisional release of Mr. Marou Amadou, president of FUSAD and communications secretary of ROTAB/Publish What You Pay Niger, on 15 September 2009,

Noting the provisional release of Mr. Wada Maman, member of the EITI consultation committee and secretary general of ANLC;

Welcoming the efforts of the international community, development partners, national, African and international civil society towards the release of all Nigerien citizens imprisoned for exercising their freedom of speech and association,

Affirming our availability to resume dialogue with the Nigerien authorities so as to guarantee civil society activists working towards good governance, the fight against corruption and human rights, the full power to carry out their activities in complete security and liberty,

We, civil society representatives on the National Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Consultation Committee in Niger:

Therefore decide to resume our participation in the EITI process in Niger and reaffirm our participation in the activities of the National EITI Consultation Committee in Niger.

Call on the Nigerien authorities to fully respect the democratic principles Niger has committed itself to by guaranteeing the right to legal activities of independent civil society organizations.

Signatories:

Khalid IKHIRI, President of the Nigerien Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ANDDH)

Oubandoma SALISSOU, National Coordinator of the Groupe de Réflexion sur les Industries Extractives (GREN)

Madame Bagna AISSATA FALL, President of the Nigerien Association Against Corruption – Transparency International – Niger chapter (ANLC TI)

Mamane WADA, Secretary General, ANLC TI

Bozari BOUBACAR, Representative of the Coalition Equité Qualité Contre la Vie Chère

Ali IDRISSA, National Coordinator of the Réseau des Organisations pour la Transparence et l’Analyse Budgétaire (ROTAB – Publish What You Pay Niger)

Niamey, 28 September 2009.