Niger: Issoufou set to win runoff as opposition calls for boycott

Nigeriens will vote on Sunday in a controversial runoff between incumbent president Mahamadou Issoufou and opposition leader Hama Amadou.

The opposition has called for a boycott of the runoff citing lack of transparency and intimidation.

The group, known as the coalition for Change, has challenged the electoral procedure and the independence of the constitutional court.

They have called on citizens to stay at home on Sunday and devote their time to prayer and contemplation.

Niger opposition group calls for boycott of run-off vote https://t.co/ftUZZRGnUR

— David Bird (@seniormacuser) March 18, 2016

If the decision is maintained Issoufou will likely win.

Opposition candidate Hama Amadou was evacuated on Wednesday to France due to his degrading health situation.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and has experienced several attacks by Islamist extremists from neighbouring Nigeria, Mali and Libya.

Issoufou has been active in regional mobilization to combat jihadists and had warned that terrorism in Libya is a threat to stability in the Sahel region.

The country has witnessed close to four coup d’etats since independence from France in 1960.