Niger Begins First Democratic Transition as Issoufou Departs
- Ex-Foreign Minister Bazoum front-runner in presidential vote
- Court bars main opposition challenger from contesting election
Photographer: Ludovic Marin/Getty Images
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Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou’s favored successor, Mohamed Bazoum, is the front-runner to win Sunday’s elections, after the main opposition challenger was barred from standing.
Issoufou, 68, is stepping down after serving two five-year terms. His departure paves the way for the first-ever peaceful transition of power between two elected leaders in the West African nation, which has had four coups since it won independence from France in 1960. More than 7.4 million people have registered to vote.