Niger: Heading Toward 2016! Political and Security Situation on the Eve of the Elections

For Niger, 2016 will be an electoral year. The first democratic transition since the 18th February 2010 coup will be the occasion for president Issoufou to present its results. The results are mixed for this country which had to consent large defense investments in order to cope with the crises in Libya, Mali, and Nigeria. In addition to external threats which trigger internal insecurity, Niger faces the danger of a developing criminal economy, especially in the Sahara. Finally, the political opposition, weakened and fragmented, can undermine the elections in a context where the authorities have done more foreign policy than domestic politics. 

Crédit photo: le président Issoufou inspecte un Soukhoï SU-25 (source: site de la présidence du Niger)