Niger: Curfew relaxed for electoral campaigns

Authorities in Niger have relaxed the existing curfew in the Diffa region ahead of the presidential elections slated for February 21.

This comes after a successful meeting between political parties and the military and civil authorities in the region, in which the parties’ representatives requested for more time to hold their campaigns in the region.

The directive will enable aspiring candidates to extend their campaign trail in the region, which has been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The campaign period is expected to begin this Saturday and end before the presidential and legislative elections, just a few weeks away.

The curfew was imposed in February 2015 after a series of attacks in the region which borders Nigeria, considered as a stronghold of the militant group.

At least six Nigerien soldiers were killed mid-January in a land mine explosion, an attack the Islamist militants claimed responsibility.