Niger voters pick president in return to civilian rule

The people of Niger voted for a new civilian president yesterday in landmark polls that the outgoing head of the military junta said should serve as an example of democracy to the whole of Africa.

Thirteen months after Mamadou Tandja was jettisoned from office over his attempts to amend the constitution, voters were choosing between a former ally of the toppled president and a veteran opposition leader in the run-off poll.

General Salou Djibo, installed as leader of the junta after the February 2010 coup, was among the first to cast his ballot.

“This is a great day for me and for all the people of Niger,” Djibo said.

“If we can hold a successful election then together we will have accomplished bringing about a democracy that can serve as an example to Africa,” he told reporters at a polling station in the capital Niamey.

The run-off pits veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou, 59, against former prime minister Seini Oumarou, the 60-year-old leader of Tandja’s party.

Issoufou, a longtime opponent of Tandja’s 10-year rule, is considered the favourite after taking the lead in the first round vote on January 31 with 36 per cent of the vote, compared to 23 per cent for Oumarou.