The voting process went on smoothly on Sunday and were no reports of widespread disruptions.
The West African country, unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, is ranked the world s poorest country according to the UN s Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people were registered to vote in the presidential ballot, which coincided with legislative polls. I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first, Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, told AFP in the capital Niamey without revealing his choice among the 30 candidates.
Issaka Soumana, a 52-year-old lorry driver, said he wanted change. Niger is not moving forward. Our country must rise, he said, brandishing his ink-stained thumb to show he had cast his ballot.
news
Niger votes in presidential and legislative elections Africanews 27/12/2020
People in Niger began voting in the country s presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Mohamed Bazoum, the right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou is the favourite to win.
The sixty-year-old former interior minister is aiming for outright victory in the first round something that no candidate has done before.
He s focussing on security and education.
Over 7 million people are eligible to vote. But some voters, like Gambina Moumouni, simply want a president they can trust. We pray to Allah to choose us the president who has the most mercy for the people, a president who will not betray the country and who will not betray the trust of the people, that is our wish. It is also our wish that Allah may help to make the poor, the peasants, the (cattle) breeders happy.
Niger stages historic vote amid militant attacks
AFP, NIAMEY
Voters in Niger went to the polls yesterday for an election that could seal the country’s first-ever peaceful handover between elected presidents, despite a bloody militant insurgency.
The West African country has been chronically unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, and is ranked the world’s poorest country according to the UN’s Human Development Index.
About 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections.
Nigerien election officials load ballot boxes and election equipment onto trucks in Niamey on Saturday.
Niger stages historic elections despite jihadist attacks
Issued on:
27/12/2020 - 05:24 2 min
Niamey (AFP)
Voters in the Sahel state of Niger go to the polls on Sunday for an election that could seal the country s first-ever peaceful handover between elected presidents, despite a bloody jihadist insurgency.
The West African country has been chronically unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, and is ranked the world s poorest country according to the UN s Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections.
President Mahamadou Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 after the country s last coup in 2010, is voluntarily stepping down after two five-year terms.
Views: Visits 19
Voters went to the polls in Niger on Sunday for an election that could seal a first peaceful handover between elected presidents, against the backdrop of a bloody jihadist insurgency.
The West African country, unstable since gaining independence from France 60 years ago, is ranked the world’s poorest country according to the UN’s Human Development Index.
Around 7.4 million people were registered to vote in the presidential ballot, which coincided with legislative polls.
“I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first,” Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, told AFP in the capital Niamey without revealing his choice among the 30 candidates.