Crises could dash Niger government’s election hopes

Significance

Official campaigning may take place only 21 days before the elections. His tour comes against the backdrop of military procurement corruption revelations, a deteriorating regional security environment and the COVID-19 epidemic.

Impacts

• Bazoum has been the president’s right-hand man and a trusted ally of Paris and Washington on security; they will want to see him elected.
• As a member of the small Arab minority, Bazoum's election could cause ethnic shake-ups in Nigerien politics.
• Competition for the presidency will heighten with the entry of army leader Salou Djibo, whose 2010 coup restored democracy.