Thousands protest university closure, alleged graft

Thousands of students, teachers and disgruntled citizens took to the streets of the capital Niamey on Tuesday to denounce mismanagement and lack of funding for the country’s main university, currently closed due to protests. Organisers said 4,000 people marched on the parliament buildings, although an IRIN correspondent estimated turnout to be closer to 3,000. The campus and classrooms of the Abdou Moumouni university in Niamey have remained closed for over a week after students went on strike to protest non-payment of scholarships and poor living and learning conditions. An agreement signed by the government and student leaders had appeared to resolve the matter last week, but within 24 hours that deal fell apart. Protest organisers say the university is grossly under funded and that meagre financing allocated to the university has been plundered. Government representatives were not immediately available for comment. Niger is the world’s poorest nation, according to UN figures, and the majority of the population of the vast arid country subsist as farmers or herders. According to Malam Issa Maman, coordinator of a collective of civil society groups, Niamey’s university received less than half of the funds it needed to operate during the last academic year. Protestors carried placards with slogans reading “down with injustice” and “down with the enemies of the Niger university,” as they marched through the dusty streets towards parliament. Malam says that a recent audit of the university finances proves large-scale embezzlement by government officials. “Our belief that it is important and essential to intensify pressure on the current regime has been strengthened. This audit proves there has been a systematic plundering of the university’s resources,” said Malam. Parents struggling to help their children get an education said they were appalled that the current closure of the university could prevent the holding of end of year exams. “We cannot understand that the students of the university of Niamey are looking forward to a wasted year as the government claims that state coffers are empty,” said parent Alio Hassane. “And at the same time those in charge of the ministry of the education and their friends keep their jobs while all the while embezzling government money.” sa/ss/ccr