Bobby Ghosh, Columnist

Niger Is Halfway to a Smooth Democratic Transition

The world’s least-developed nation may pull off a feat that’s eluding the U.S.

January 12, 2021 at 5:30 AM UTC

Bobby Ghosh is a senior editor in the digital weekend team. Previously, he was a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion, where he wrote mostly about international affairs and culture.

Niger’s presidential election could seal the country's first-ever democratic handover between elected presidents. — Niger’s presidential election could seal the country's first-ever democratic handover between elected presidents.
Photographer: Issouf Sanogo/AFP

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As the world’s most powerful nation struggles with its 45th democratic transition of power, the planet’s least developed country is proceeding smoothly with its first. Niger’s presidential election, scarcely noticed while international attention was transfixed by the tumult in the U.S., passed off with little incident.

But tougher tests lie in wait.