Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou
Niamey – Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, facing a fragmented opposition, has said he wants to ensure next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections are “transparent”.
Issoufou’s statement to public television on Wednesday evening came after launching a new voter registration process.
“We want the next elections to be transparent, free, honest and credible,” Issoufou said.
Niger has a population of 17 million, but only 6.7 million people were registered to vote in the 2011 poll.
The new registration process, which will take three weeks to complete and is backed by the ruling and opposition parties as well as independent groups, lays “the foundation for a credible election”, said Issoufou, whose family has also signed up to vote.
Legislative and presidential polls will be held in the first half of 2016.
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