(4minutes read)
· Niger is attempting its first peaceful transfer of power when its presidential election will have a runoff poll on February 21, first instance of polling
· If elections go without any untoward incidents, it may be a peaceful augury for the country, which gained independence only in 1960
· Between now and 1960, the country had witnessed many upheavals for gaining control of power, and most of them were bloody
Niger is attempting its first peaceful transfer of power when its presidential election will have a runoff poll on February 21, since the ruling party failed to secure more than 50% votes in the first instance of polling. If elections go without any untoward incidents, it may be a peaceful augury for the country, which gained independence only in 1960. Between now and 1960, the country had witnessed many upheavals for gaining control of power, and most of them were bloody.
The ruling party’s presidential candidate Mohamed Bazoum failed to secure required votes in the first round against former president Mahamane Ousman leading to runoff as required by the Constitution, wherein the person who got the maximum number of votes will have to contest against the candidate of the combined opposition. The runoff vote will take place on February 21 to decide a new president-elect. He will take over the power from President Issoufou.
Notwithstanding that development, the outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou is now on a stock taking trail of his past rule, which extended to over ten years. He takes credit for ensuring the peaceful transition, showing that as the sign of democracy taking deep roots in the country. The new political alliances painstakingly formed also permeated peace and tranquility in the country, he claims. Forging alliances, he said, was critical to achieve the goal and to keep all stakeholders happy and content.
Significantly, Niger is one of the few countries in Africa, which recently gone into election mode, which will be witnessing a peaceful transition of power.
President Issoufou also narrated some of the pain points that he had suffered during the decade long journey as a power wielder. There were bloody instances, which stole the lives of many including the recent (Sunday’s) security crisis that caused the death of 100 people by suspected militants, who attacked two villages in the western region. This, he said, was security breakdowns in an otherwise peaceful rule in the last ten years, he said. He also underscored the need for restoring peace in Africa, lest it should spill over to the entire world, alluding that the continent was going to be the epicenter of development in the 21st century.
