Niger's opposition candidate flown to Paris ahead of runoff polls

Niger’s presidential hopeful Hama Amadou has been flown to France for medical treatment ahead of Sunday’s runoff vote.

His doctor was recently detained on grounds of spreading false information that his patient had been hospitalised after losing consciousness twice and that his health was worsening.

According to the government, the opposition leader was suffering from general fatigue though it is still not clear what he is suffering from.

Amadou is due to face-off with incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou on March 20 as a result of February’s vote in which he got 18 percent of the votes.

Issoufou, who is seeking a second term in office won the first round of the polls with 48 percent of the ballots.

Amadou, who is the main opposition candidate, was detained since November last year and has been campaigning behind bars.

He is accused of baby-trafficking, a charge he has continuously denied and has described as politically motivated.