At the end of his two constitutional terms, Mahamadou Issoufou handed over the president’s keys to his successor, Mohamed Bazoum, on Friday morning.
In his very first speech, the new president praised Mahamadou Issoufou, who is handing over after ten years in power. Mohamed Bazoum talked a lot about his 30-year-old friend, with whom he founded PNDS, the ruling party, in 1990. “The birth certificate for a project whose ceremony is not the least result,” he explained.
Mohamed Bazoum clearly places his future mandate in the continuity of what Mahamadou Issoufou achieved. It therefore addresses themes from its predecessor: improving education and, in particular, the education of young girls. Demographics too. Mohamed Bazoum spoke of the “vicious circle” in which Niger is locked. The new president also promised to address the issue of corruption. Several scandals have limited the mandate of his predecessors, such as the hijackings at the Ministry of Defense. “Whoever has a responsibility in the administration will be held accountable for their actions,” he warned.
Remarkable fact of this speech, this hand extended to civil society. Mohamed Bazoum declared that it was necessary to “put an end to the misunderstanding” that opposed them, and the new president assured that he would devote his mandate to the fight for social justice.
An audience of heads of state
This investment ceremony takes place in the presence of ten African heads of state at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in Niamey. Among them are some Sahelian neighbors, such as the President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Chadian Idriss Déby or Mauretanian Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. France, for its part, is represented by its Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. His partner in the fight against terrorism therefore exists, for security will be one of Mohamed Bazoum’s biggest challenges.
This security is far from acquired, including in Niameyoù, according to authorities, an attempted coup failed two days ago. To secure this investment a colossal security system was therefore introduced. The presidential guard, the police, the national guard were mobilized.
In his speech, Mohamed Bazoum gave the finishing touches on the I-speech, justice will do its job and anyone who tries to question the Republican order must respond to it. Finally, the President-elect spoke about the fight against terrorism, a highlight of his introductory speech.
Terrorism is a real disaster for our country, especially since its bases are outside our territory. Those who are leaders come from other countries. No terrorist leader has ever complained to our state, let alone claimed its leadership. In the Diffa region, Boko Haram has been destabilizing the economy since January 2015. My ambition is to immediately enter into discussions with the Nigerian authorities, in particular to create the conditions for all refugees to return to their country as soon as possible. My ambition is to allow the displaced to flow back to their respective villages just as quickly and at the same time ensure them the security they are entitled to. This is an urgent need, because children outside the school and free children living in the refugee and displaced persons camps constitute, in my view, growing up as a real breeding ground for banditry and terrorism.
Mohammed Bazoum, Niger President
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