Voting peaceful in landmark poll

Voting in Niger’s local elections - the first since independence in 1960 - went ahead peacefully yesterday, news organisations reported. They pointed out that the poll was a political landmark in Niger’s history as previously all municipal officials were nominated by the central government. The elections were the last phase in the country’s restoration of democratic institutions after a military coup in 1996 which brought President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara to power. However, a Supreme Court judge today took issue with the centralisation and announcement of the results, saying this did not conform with the electoral code. AFP noted that since voting ended last night, the independent national electoral commission had organised an “election night” in Niamey during which it announced the results as they came in, ahead of the official announcement by the various local commissions.