Niger election: Mohamed Bazoum wins landmark vote amid protests

By NP admin | Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Niger election: Mohamed Bazoum wins landmark vote amid protests
Mohamed Bazoum is Niger president elect

Keep Reading

A former interior minister, Mohamed Bazoum, has won Niger's presidential election, which has been hailed as a first democratic transition for the coup-prone West African state.

Topics You Might Like

Africa protests Niger election Mohamed Bazoum landmark vote Niger election: Mohamed Bazoum wins landmark vote amid protests News

He took 55.75% of the vote, said the electoral commission, with opposition candidate Mahamane Ousmane on 44.25%.

Supporters of Mr Ousmane, a former president, have protested in the streets, alleging fraud.

Niger struggles with frequent droughts, insurgency and widespread poverty.

The world's poorest nation according to the UN's development rankings for 189 countries, it outlawed slavery as late as 2003.

It has been affected by a spillover of violence from two jihadist insurgencies in neighbouring Mali and Nigeria.

Mr Bazoum, 61, was the candidate for the governing party in Sunday's second-round run-off vote. He is set to succeed President Mahamdou Issoufou, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.

However, supporters of the defeated Mr Ousmane have gathered in areas seen as his strongholds in the capital, Niamey.

The BBC's Lalla Sy, in neighbouring Ivory Coast, reports that tyres are being burned and stones have been thrown at a vehicle belonging to the governing party.

Mr Ousmane, 71, was the first democratically elected president of Niger in 1993 but was overthrown in a military coup three years later.

The provisional results must still be confirmed by the constitutional court.

Source: BBC 

What’s your take on this story?

Help others stay updated — share this link

Get Ahead of the News.
Stay in the know with real-time breaking news alerts, exclusive reports, and updates that matter to you.

Tap ‘Yes, Keep Me Updated’ and never miss what’s happening in Uganda and beyond—first and fast from NilePost.