Niger, a vast arid nation, is the world's poorest country according to UN figuresNiger's ministers for health and education were dismissed on Tuesday following allegations of corruption by donors and development partners.
A cabinet reshuffle by Niger President Mamadou Tandja removed Ari Ibrahim as minister for health, and Harouna Hamani lost his portfolio as minister for education and literacy.
According to the secretary general of the government, the two men lost their positions "to prepare for an objective audit of the education sector…but it does not mean that the individuals are complicit with the accusations."
An audit by a coalition of technical and financial partners of Niger this year uncovered a series of invoices paid without receipt of goods and said that government money had been spent without reference to proper procedures.
Last week, students forced the closure of Niamey University saying that government officials had embezzled funds intended for their studies.
Niger is the world's poorest country, according to the UN's Human Development Index. Average life expectancy is 44 years and only 14 percent of the adult population can read and write.
Reproduced with the kind permission of IRIN
Copyright IRIN 2006
Photo: Copyright IRIN/ G. Cranston
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