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Africa News of Monday, 29 June 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Niger 2020 Presidential Elections: Ex-Junta leader, Djibo, in contention

General Salou Djibo General Salou Djibo

General Salou Djibo, former head of Niger’s military junta, has been adopted on Sunday as the candidate for the Peace-Justice-Progress party ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

He accepted the candidacy at a ceremony before some 5,000 people at the Niamey Sports Palace.

Djibo, 55, led the military junta that ousted President Mahamadou Tandja in February 2010, after he tried to stay on in power beyond his two-term limit.

Djibo stayed in power until April 2011 before handing back power to civilian rule, in the form of the current president Mahamadou Issoufou.

Djibo, who retired from the army in 2019, hopes to succeed Issoufou, who is constitutionally barred from serving a third term.

The first round of the presidential election in Niger, coupled with the legislative elections, is set for December 27, 2020.

(AFP)