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Mohamed Bazoum Declared Winner of Niger's Presidential Run-off

VOA News

   NigerrulingPNDSparty candidateMohamedBazoumis promising to be president
   to all citizens after being declared winner
   ofSunday'spresidentialrun-offelection.

   The chairman of the Independent National Electoral
   Commission,IssakaSouna,saidTuesdayBazoum, who represents the party of
   Democracy and Socialism,won withjust under 56%of the vote,based on
   provisional results that still must be reviewed by the Constitutional
   Court.

   The vote marks the first transition from one democratically elected
   leader to another as President Mahamadou Issoufou leaves office
   following two five-year terms, withhis ally assuming the leadership
   after advancing to thesecond roundvote from the December election.
   Niger ruling party's Bazoum declared winner of presidential election,
   Feb. 23, 2021.

   Supporters of opposition candidateMahamaneOusmane, whosecureda little
   more than44%of the votes, are alleging voter fraud, claiming votes were
   stolen, althoughno proof has been made public.

   The chairman of the electoral commission said while no credible
   evidence has been presented to support fraud allegations, the vote
   wasmarred byseparateattacks thatkilled eight people in two regions
   where Islamist militantsoperate.

   A landmine struck a vehiclein the westernTillaberyregion,nearthe border
   with Mali,killing seven election workers heading tothe polls.

   Bazoumtakes leadershipin a country that faces the global challenge of
   slowing the spread ofCOVID-19 aswell as a nation struggling
   withmilitantgroups from neighboring Mali and Nigeria coming into Niger.

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