News

• Apr 07, 2011:
• Apr 07, 2011:
• Mar 15, 2011: Niger: Issoufou wins Niger vote in next step to civilian rule RFI Mahamadou Issoufou is the New President of Niger. He won the election with less than 58% of the votes. The elections were clear and transparent; the inauguration will take place in April 6th. This will mark the return to civilian rule.
• Mar 15, 2011:
• Mar 15, 2011: AU congratulates Niger on ‘transparent’ presidential election, Business Day (2011) This article reports on the initial statement of the Observer missions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) regarding the election in Niger. Both organizations expressed their satisfaction with the electoral process. Junta leader General Salou Djibo has won international praise for his professed readiness to step down. The president will be installed by April 16.
• Mar 15, 2011: Niger's Issoufou wins presidential vote - results, Reuters (2011) This article reports on the provisional results of the presidential election runoff in Niger. According to the electoral commission's statement, Mahamadou Issoufou received 1,820,639 votes or 57.95%, while 1.321248 people voted for Seini Oumarou (42.05%).
• Mar 15, 2011: Niger's presidential elections 'fair and transparent', Africa Union says, Bloomberg (2011) This article reports on the initial statement of the African Union observation mission regarding the presidential runoff in Niger. According to the head of the mission, Khalifa Babacar Sall, the election were "fair and transparent".
• Mar 15, 2011:
• Mar 15, 2011: Niger's opposition leader, Mahamadou Issoufou, wins presidential runoff, Bloomberg (2011) This article presents and comments the results of the presidential runoff election in Niger. Mahamadou Issoufou won the election, and he will now replace Djibo Salou, who led a February 2010 coup. The military overthrew the government when former President Mamadou Tandja tried to modify the law limiting him to two terms in office and dissolved the constitutional court. The African Union observer mission stated that the elections were fair and transparent.
• Mar 15, 2011: Provisional results have Issoufou winning Niger presidency, VOA News (2011) This article reports on the initial results released by the Electoral Commission in Niger. The head of Niger's electoral commission, Abdourhamane Ghousmane, announced that Mahamadou Issoufou won Saturday's runoff election with 58% of the votes, while his opponent, Seini Oumarou, received 42%. The Constitutional Court will have to certify the provisional results within two weeks.
• Mar 15, 2011: Niger election: Opposition's Mahamadou Issoufou wins, BBC News (2011) This article reports on the presidential runoff election in Niger. According to the initial results, opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou won Saturday's vote with 58% of the votes. Mr Issoufou is the leader of the Social Democratic Party, and he was competing against presidential candidate Seini Oumarou. This election marks the return of Niger to civilian rule since a military coup overthrew President Mamadou Tandja last year.
• Feb 04, 2011: Ecowas, EU say Niger elections satisfactory, AllAfrica (2011) This article reports on the initial statements of the ECOWAS and EU election observers who monitored the Monday's elections in Niger. The observers expressed satisfaction with the management and conduct of the poll. Despite some difficulties during the voting operations, they stated, the he freedom of expression and movement of all candidates was respected.
• Feb 04, 2011: Niger election: Issoufou to face Oumarou in run-off, BBC News (2011) This article reports on the preliminary results of the January 31 election in Niger. Veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou will face ex-Prime Minister Seini Oumarou in the run-off election. The president's power and number of terms in office were limited by the constitutional changes approved by the October referendum.
• Feb 04, 2011: Niger election marks return to civilian rule amid kidnappings, Bloomberg (2011) This article, dated January 28, discusses the importance of the January elections in Niger. Voters cast their ballots to elect a new president and a new parliament, which will mark the country's return to civilian rule.
• Feb 04, 2011: Niger polls close in election aimed at returning nation to civilian rule, Bloomberg (2011) This article reports on the elections in Niger. On January 31, citizens cast their ballots to elect a new parliament and restore civilian rule in the country. According to the initial statements of the electoral commission, the voter turnout was between 45% and 51%, and the initial results might be released 2-3 days after the closing of the polls. 10 presidential candidates were competing to replace junta leader Djibo Salou.
• Jan 20, 2011: Candidates seek new election body for Niger poll, Reuters (2011) This article discusses the latest updates from Niger. The 10 presidential candidates running for the January polls asked the ruling military junta to dissolve the Electoral Commission. Local and municipal elections were held on January 11, and the EC was not able to manage the voting. The poll was marred by many difficulties, and many citizens were not event able to cast their ballots.
• Jan 20, 2011: Candidates seek to delay Niger presidential poll, Reuters (2011) This article reports on the political situation in Niger. The 10 presidential candidates asked the military junta to postpone the elections, due on January 31, by three weeks. The candidates also requested the junta to dissolve the electoral commission and replace all of its members, after the mis-management of the local polls held earlier this month. The new date for the poll would be February 20, while the likely runoff will be in March.
• Nov 02, 2010: Niger leader hopes referendum will bring civilian rule RFI (2010) The referendum in Niger was voted on Sunday. It is a great step toward having a civilian rule.
• Sep 24, 2010: Niger calls on UN to observe upcoming referendum and elections, UN News Center (2010) This article reports on the invitation of Niger's head of state, Salou Djibo, for the United Nations to observe the series of elections that will restore a democratic regime in the country. In February, a military coup d'état and General Djibo came into power. Between October 31st and February 18th, the country will hold a constitutional referendum and a presidential election.
• Sep 08, 2010: Amendments to Niger Constitution to Raise Requirements for Presidential Candidates Voanews.com (2010) Next month the new constitution is being voted, in Niger. It has been generally approved except for the age and the educational requirement.
• Sep 08, 2010: Niger’s Election to Return to Civilian Rule Delayed to 31st January VOAnews.com (2010) Previously set for 3rd of January, Niger's election has been postponed to the 31st of January in order to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
• Aug 16, 2010: Niger:New Constitution May Include Amnesty for Coup Leaders All Africa 2010 The new constitution may benefit people who led military coup in Niger. Mr. Ibrahim Yacouba, council official, stated to RFI that it was not the first time that such measure were carried out, in order to protect people who led military coup to ensure a good transition.
• Jul 29, 2010: Niger's Presidential Race Will Include First Female Candidate, VOA (2010) Former Minister of Culture Mariama Bayard is one of the first to declare her candidacy for the upcoming presidential election and is the first women to ever run for president in Niger. The vote is scheduled for January 3 and local and legislative elections will be held around the same time.
• Jul 27, 2010: Niger to delay election process by a month: source, Reuters (2010) This article discusses the postponement of the elections in Niger. Apparently, a source in the Election Commission revealed that the elections to hand power back to civilians will be delayed by one month. The election year in the country is very tight: from November to March citizens should vote for a new constitution, a new parliament and a new president. Despite its uranium and oil industries, Niger is one of the poorest country in the world.
• Jul 20, 2010: Niger's Political Parties Form Alliance Before Presidential Election, VOA (2010) Seventeen of Niger's political parties have allied ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Each party will present their own candidate in the first round scheduled for Jaunary 3, 2011, but have agreed to support any candidate from the alliance that makes it to the second round.
• Jul 06, 2010: Niger to Hold Presidential Election in January, VOA (2010) The independent election commission have set the presidential election for January 3 2011, and January 14 is also planned for a run-off, if necessary, but there are concerns that the country will not be able to cover the estimated $57 million necessary for the polls.
• Jul 05, 2010: Niger sets presidential election for January 2011, Reuters Africa (2010) The electoral commission has set the date for presidential and legislative elections, the first following the military coup in February. The elections will take place on January 3 with the inauguration set for March 11.
• Jun 15, 2010: Niger Politician Pledges Party Support for Electoral Body, VOA (2010) Bazoum Mohammed, leading member of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism announced that his party is ready to work with the new Independent Electoral Commission (CENI). The elections need to be organized in time to allow the president to be sworn in by March 1 2011.
• May 07, 2010: Niger junta plans polls before coup anniversary, BBC (2010) Niger's military rulers have promised to revert to civilian rule before the anniversary of their 18 February coup, ousting ex-President Mamadou Tandja.
• Feb 28, 2010: Niger: Junta Delegation Visits Aso Rock - Jonathan, Mark Demand Fresh Polls, Daily Independent (2010) Acting President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has directed the military junta in Niger Republic to immediately conduct elections to replace former President Mahmoud Tandja who was ousted in a coup recently.
• Feb 25, 2010: Niger coup leaders promise fresh elections, BBC (2010) The leaders of the military coup have promised to turn Niger into an example of "democracy and good governance", and they would draft a new constitution and hold elections, but did not say when.
• Feb 23, 2010: Niger: Army to run Niger until elections, Reuters (2010) The new military group who took power in Niger afer last week's coup have decided to run the country until politicians and stakeholders agree on a new constitution and conduct an electoral process which will bring about a civilian head of state.
• Oct 28, 2009: Niger Opposition Contests Parliamentary Elections, VOA News (2009) Opposition and civil society groups have rejected the results of last Tuesday's parliamentary elections where President Tandja's ruling party won the majority of seats.
• Oct 23, 2009: Ruling party takes strong lead in Niger's election, Reuters (2009) President Tandja's ruling party has won 21 out of 25 seats according to the preliminary results of this week's parliamentary elections largely boycotted by opposition parties.
• Oct 21, 2009: ECOWAS suspends Niger, says election invalid, Reuters (2009) In protest against what it said were flawed elections, ECOWAS suspended Niger, and said it would not recognize the results of the vote.
• Oct 20, 2009: Niger votes in contentious poll, BBC News (2009) The parliamentary elections are taking place despite opposition boycott and criticism from ECOWAS, the African Union as well as the European Union.
• Oct 19, 2009: Preview: Niger parliament vote to harden Tandja's power, Reuters (2009) This article offers an updated analysis of what's at stake in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Niger.
• Oct 19, 2009: Niger trains 80 observers for October 20 poll, Daily Nation (2009) Niger has completed the training of 80 local election observers for the highly controversial election that several opposition parties are boycotting and no international observers will supervise.
• Oct 19, 2009: Niger rejects election delay plea, BBC News (2009) Despite a plea from the group of West African states (ECOWAS) to postpone the elections, Niger government officials reiterated that parliamentary elections will be held.