Niger: Issoufou to face Oumarou in a run-off

The head of Niger's electoral commission, Abdourahamane Ghousmane, said Mahamadou Issoufou was leading in the presidential race with 36 per cent of the vote. He also said Issoufou is to face former prime minister, Seini Oumarou, in a run-off neither of the candidates received a majority vote.

Oumarou, a close ally of former president Mamadou Tandja, ousted by the army in 2010, is backed by a broad coalition, including the party of the third-placed candidate, Hama Amadou. Niger's military ruler Salou Djibo promised to hand power to an elected leader before April.

Last October, a new constitution was passed in a referendum, reducing the powers of future presidents and limiting them to two terms in office. The election results are expected to return uranium-rich Niger to civil rule.

Sources: BBC News, The Canadian Press, AFP

For more news and expert analysis about the Sahara region, please see Sahara Focus.