Niger goes to the polls

Niger goes to the polls

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Elections are only days away in Niger, a landlocked, impoverished country on the edge of the Sahara Desert. But it won’t be polling day for everyone.

The former French colony has a population of 19 million. However only the 7.5 million whose names appear on the electoral register will be able to cast their votes in the presidential and legislative poll on 21 February.

. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney
Students gather at a cemetery to commemorate student leaders killed in a 1990 protest.

Many supporters of incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou dress in pink in the run-up to the elections in Niger. The country is a major uranium producer and Western ally in a regional fight against Islamist militants including Nigeria's Boko Haram.

While the opposition accuses Issoufou of becoming increasingly authoritarian, the government underscores the need for order amid security threats - including an alleged attempt to topple Issoufou in December.

(Additional reporting by Emma Farge, text editing by Brian McGee)

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Slideshow

A boy walks past electoral campaign posters for presidential candidates.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

A boy walks past electoral campaign posters for presidential candidates.

Supporters of the ruling PNDS-Tarayya (the Nigerien Party for Socialism and Democracy) pose for a picture wearing party t-shirts.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

Supporters of the ruling PNDS-Tarayya (the Nigerien Party for Socialism and Democracy) pose for a picture wearing party t-shirts.

A woman walks past electoral campaign posters for presidential candidate Seini Oumarou.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

A woman walks past electoral campaign posters for presidential candidate Seini Oumarou.

A supporter of incarcerated opposition candidate Hama Amadou sits in front of campaign posters for Amadou.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

A supporter of incarcerated opposition candidate Hama Amadou sits in front of campaign posters for Amadou.

Abdou Razak, a supporter of incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou, wears pink clothes to show his support for Issoufou.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

Abdou Razak, a supporter of incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou, wears pink clothes to show his support for Issoufou.

A man gets a haircut and a shave in front of a campaign poster of incarcerated opposition candidate Amadou.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

A man gets a haircut and a shave in front of a campaign poster of incarcerated opposition candidate Amadou.

Supporters of incumbent Issoufou wear party clothing.
. Niamey, Niger. Reuters/Joe Penney

Supporters of incumbent Issoufou wear party clothing.

A boy gets water to make tea.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

A boy gets water to make tea.

A security officer sleeps with his gun beside him on the roof of the MDR-Tarna (Movement for Democratic Renewal) political party’s headquarters.
. Niamey, Niger. Reuters/Joe Penney

A security officer sleeps with his gun beside him on the roof of the MDR-Tarna (Movement for Democratic Renewal) political party’s headquarters.

People are seen in a courtyard.
. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney

People are seen in a courtyard.

. Niamey, NIGER. Reuters/Joe Penney