Tandja mamadou biography channel

In a country plagued by coups and and chronic poverty, Niger President Mamadou Tandja built his reputation on providing political and economic stability.

But with reports of a coup in the capital, Niamey, it seems Mr Tandja may be swept away in much the same fashion as many of his predecessors before the introduction of multi-party elections in 1999.

Tandja mamadou biography channel 7

Mr Tandja won two elections - in 1999 and 2004 - and was due to step down last December after 10 years in power.

But despite widespread criticism, Mr Tandja pushed through a constitutional amendment scrapping such presidential term limits.

Critics said this was aimed at allowing him to stay in power indefinitely.

But he said he just needed more time to complete projects such as the country's first oil refinery, the construction of a dam on the River Niger and the mining of new uranium sites in the north of the country.