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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Niger election result may hit region's Boko Haram fight |
| 2016-03-19 |
| [BBC] The second round of the Niger presidential election takes place on Sunday 20 March, and the result may have implications for regional stability and the fight against Islamist terrorism in West Africa. Incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou looks set to secure a second term in office, as opposition candidate Hama Amadou has been evacuated from prison to La Belle France for specialized medical treatment just days before the run-off, raising concerns over the poll. The former parliamentary speaker and prime minister has been in detention in the south-western town of Filingue since November 2015 over allegations of baby trafficking. He has dismissed the charges as politically motivated. Niger is seen as a key ally in the fight against Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... , and President Issoufou has been praised in the West for rallying neighbouring countries to fight the group. What is the likely outcome? President Issoufou seems poised for victory in the run-off, having narrowly missed outright victory in the first round with 48% of the vote. Having garnered only 17%, it will be difficult for Mr Amadou to bridge the gap despite the opposition alliance backing him. Mixed messages about a poll boycott are also likely to weaken his chances. It is still unclear if the Opposition Coalition for Change (COPA 2016) - an alliance formed to back Mr Amadou - will take part in the vote, having announced a boycott. The opposition has said it will not recognise the outcome, saying Mr Amadou's imprisonment prevented him from campaigning, among other complaints; while the government's handling of his medical condition is a sensitive issue that could inflame tensions. What is Hama Amadou's current condition? The nature of Mr Amadou's illness is not clear, but the government says he has "a chronic illness which he has suffered from for three years". The 66-year-old received medical treatment for an eye condition recently. On 14 March, he reportedly lost consciousness before being revived at the prison clinic, his doctor telling a local TV station that he had fainted. The doctor was later locked away Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! for "revealing medical confidentiality and spreading false news". On 16 March, it was reported that Amadou had been flown to La Belle France for "specialist treatment", with the government claiming that he was suffering from "general fatigue". |
| Posted by:Fred |