Niger's new President Mohamed Bazoum lashed out on Friday at jihadists who have carried out devastating attacks on his country, accusing them of "war crimes" as he took the helm of the troubled nation.

His inauguration marked the first-ever transition between elected presidents in Niger's six decades of independence from France — a historic moment that has been widely praised.

But the Sahel country's problems were deeply underscored in the run-up to Friday's ceremony, after a string of jihadist massacres and an alleged attempted coup just two days before the handover.

In his inauguration speech, Bazoum hit out at "terrorist groups whose barbarity has exceeded every limit."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/niger-gets-new-president-mohamed-bazoum-sworn-in-after-attempted-coup-375124">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/niger-gets-new-president-mohamed-bazoum-sworn-in-after-attempted-coup-375124/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These groups "carry out large-scale massacres of innocent civilians, and in doing so, commit real war crimes," Bazoum declared.

Niger is being hit by insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda or the so-called Islamic State (IS), crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso in the west, and by Boko Haram, crossing from Nigeria in the southeast.

Thousands of people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes.

Since the start of this year alone, more than 300 people have been killed in three attacks in the west.

In its campaign to roll back the threat, Niger's diplomatic efforts "will be centered on Mali," Bazoum said.

IS-linked insurgents are based in Menaka and Gao, in eastern and central Mali respectively, said Bazoum.

Combatting them "will be very difficult so long as the Malian state does not exercise full sovereignty over these regions", he said.

"The current situation in Mali has a direct impact on domestic security in our country."

Bazoum has previously ruled out any talks with the jihadists.

"We cannot envisage any dialogue of any kind so long as there is a single Nigerien jihadist chief, a single jihadist base on our territory," he said in a recent interview with French media outlets RFI and France 24.

'Cowardly act'

Bazoum, 61, is a former interior minister and right-hand man of outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou, 68, who voluntarily stepped down after two five-year terms -- a move that Bazoum saluted in his speech.

Bazoum won a runoff vote for the presidency in February with 55.6 percent of the ballot, according to official results contested by his opponent, Mahamane Ousmane.

His inauguration has been showcased as a democratic watershed in a country that has suffered four coups in its history, most recently in February 2010.

The US State Department congratulated Bazoum on his "historic" swearing in and, in a reference to the alleged coup attempt, condemned "any attempt to undermine Niger's democratically elected government."

Reminders of the country's volatility came in the early hours of Wednesday, when gunfire broke out near the presidency in the capital Niamey.

The government announced an "attempted coup" had been thwarted -- a "cowardly and regressive act which sought to threaten democracy and the state of law". &nbsp;

The alleged coup leader is an air force officer in charge of security at Niamey's air base and is being "actively sought", a source within Niger's security services told AFP on Wednesday.

Another security source said "a few members of the army" had been behind the coup but they were prevented from approaching the presidential palace by the elite Presidential Guard.

"Some arrests" were made, the source said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was among worried foreign leaders, calling on the armed forces "to strictly abide by their constitutional obligations".&nbsp;

Bazoum, in his speech, said the attempted coup was "very revealing of the state of mind of some of our compatriots... (who are) willing to compromise our country's future."

Education for girls

Several African heads of state or government attended the ceremonies at Niamey's international conference centre, which was adorned with Niger's national colours of green, white and orange.

The VIPs included President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, who has recently dispatched 1,200 troops to Niger to help shore up security, while France sent its foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

In addition to insecurity, Bazoum's big task is to ease poverty in a country ranked the poorest in the world under the UN's 189-nation Human Development Index (HDI).

Bazoum vowed to push ahead with a campaign-trail pledge to strengthen education for girls, and be "ruthless" in fighting corruption, an issue that had stained Issoufou's tenure.

Niger's new President Mohamed Bazoum lashed out on Friday at jihadists who have carried out devastating attacks on his country, accusing them of "war crimes" as he took the helm of the troubled nation.

Niger's new President Mohamed Bazoum lashed out on Friday at jihadists who have carried out devastating attacks on his country, accusing them of "war crimes" as he took the helm of the troubled nation. His inauguration marked the first-ever transition between elected presidents in Niger's six decades of independence from France — a historic moment that has been widely praised. But the Sahel country's problems were deeply underscored in the run-up to Friday's ceremony, after a string of jihadist massacres and an alleged attempted coup just two days before the handover. In his inauguration speech, Bazoum hit out at "terrorist groups whose barbarity has exceeded every limit." Watch | These groups "carry out large-scale massacres of innocent civilians, and in doing so, commit real war crimes," Bazoum declared. Niger is being hit by insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda or the so-called Islamic State (IS), crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso in the west, and by Boko Haram, crossing from Nigeria in the southeast. Thousands of people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes. Since the start of this year alone, more than 300 people have been killed in three attacks in the west. In its campaign to roll back the threat, Niger's diplomatic efforts "will be centered on Mali," Bazoum said. IS-linked insurgents are based in Menaka and Gao, in eastern and central Mali respectively, said Bazoum. Combatting them "will be very difficult so long as the Malian state does not exercise full sovereignty over these regions", he said. "The current situation in Mali has a direct impact on domestic security in our country." Bazoum has previously ruled out any talks with the jihadists. "We cannot envisage any dialogue of any kind so long as there is a single Nigerien jihadist chief, a single jihadist base on our territory," he said in a recent interview with French media outlets RFI and France 24. 'Cowardly act' Bazoum, 61, is a former interior minister and right-hand man of outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou, 68, who voluntarily stepped down after two five-year terms -- a move that Bazoum saluted in his speech. Bazoum won a runoff vote for the presidency in February with 55.6 percent of the ballot, according to official results contested by his opponent, Mahamane Ousmane. His inauguration has been showcased as a democratic watershed in a country that has suffered four coups in its history, most recently in February 2010. The US State Department congratulated Bazoum on his "historic" swearing in and, in a reference to the alleged coup attempt, condemned "any attempt to undermine Niger's democratically elected government." Reminders of the country's volatility came in the early hours of Wednesday, when gunfire broke out near the presidency in the capital Niamey. The government announced an "attempted coup" had been thwarted -- a "cowardly and regressive act which sought to threaten democracy and the state of law". The alleged coup leader is an air force officer in charge of security at Niamey's air base and is being "actively sought", a source within Niger's security services told AFP on Wednesday. Another security source said "a few members of the army" had been behind the coup but they were prevented from approaching the presidential palace by the elite Presidential Guard. "Some arrests" were made, the source said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was among worried foreign leaders, calling on the armed forces "to strictly abide by their constitutional obligations". Bazoum, in his speech, said the attempted coup was "very revealing of the state of mind of some of our compatriots... (who are) willing to compromise our country's future." Education for girls Several African heads of state or government attended the ceremonies at Niamey's international conference centre, which was adorned with Niger's national colours of green, white and orange. The VIPs included President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, who has recently dispatched 1,200 troops to Niger to help shore up security, while France sent its foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. In addition to insecurity, Bazoum's big task is to ease poverty in a country ranked the poorest in the world under the UN's 189-nation Human Development Index (HDI). Bazoum vowed to push ahead with a campaign-trail pledge to strengthen education for girls, and be "ruthless" in fighting corruption, an issue that had stained Issoufou's tenure.

New Niger president lashes out at jihadist 'war crimes'

The West African country regularly suffers attacks by Islamist militants and had stepped up security to protect the poll

Seven poll workers killed by landmine as Niger votes in presidential runoff

Polling booths across Niger saw queues of voters who are voting in an election that will mark first peaceful transition of power since Niger's independence. The elections are taking place in the shadow of Jihadist attacks. Niger gained independence from France 60 years ago but the politics has been marred by numerous coups.

Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections. Niger is ranked as the world's poorest country as per United Nations Human Development Index.

"I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first," Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, told AFP in Niamey without revealing who he voted for.

Issaka Soumana, a 52-year-old lorry driver, said he wanted change.

"Niger is not moving forward. Our country must rise," he said, brandishing his thumb stained with ink to show he had cast his ballot.

Niger's incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou was elected in 2011 after a coup in 2010. He has agreed to step down after two successive terms.

The frontrunner in the 30-strong field is his designated successor, Mohamed Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister.
<img alt="Niger's presidential candidate Mohamed Bazoum leaves the polling station after casting his ballot in Niamey on December 27, 2020 during Niger's presidential and legislative elections" data-caption="Niger's presidential candidate Mohamed Bazoum leaves the polling station after casting his ballot in Niamey on December 27, 2020 during Niger's presidential and legislative elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb6a7b2f-9a83-4c5c-aa2d-11a5b2823771" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_8XT92K.jpg" />
"It is a great pride that this date of December 27 has been respected," Bazoum said after voting.

Bazoum's main rival, former prime minister Hama Amadou, was barred from contesting the vote on the grounds that in 2017 he was handed a 12-month jail term for baby trafficking -- a charge he says was bogus.

The polling stations will close at 1800 GMT on Sunday, December 27. Partial results will be announced on Monday while full results will be available on Wednesday and Thursday.
<img alt="Niger election" data-caption="A Nigerien soldier stands guard as Niger's outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou arrives at a polling station in Niamey on December 27, 2020" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="419172b9-037a-411f-bb4f-1e7918068d5e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_8XT926.jpg" />
Niger has borne burnt of Jihadist violence on its southwestern border with Mali, and its southeastern frontier with Nigeria.

A jihadist insurgency that has spilt across borders in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger claimed some 4,000 lives last year from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists, according to the UN.

In Niger itself, hundreds have died in the past five years, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes.

(With AFP inputs)

Polling booths across Niger saw queues of voters who are voting in an election that will mark first peaceful transition of power since Niger's independence. The elections are taking place in the shadow of Jihadist attacks.

Polling booths across Niger saw queues of voters who are voting in an election that will mark first peaceful transition of power since Niger's independence. The elections are taking place in the shadow of Jihadist attacks. Niger gained independence from France 60 years ago but the politics has been marred by numerous coups. Around 7.4 million people are registered to vote for the ballot for presidency, which coincides with legislative elections. Niger is ranked as the world's poorest country as per United Nations Human Development Index. "I expect the Nigerien president to put security, health, progress and democracy first," Aboubakar Saleh, a 37-year-old launderer, told AFP in Niamey without revealing who he voted for. Issaka Soumana, a 52-year-old lorry driver, said he wanted change. "Niger is not moving forward. Our country must rise," he said, brandishing his thumb stained with ink to show he had cast his ballot. Niger's incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou was elected in 2011 after a coup in 2010. He has agreed to step down after two successive terms. The frontrunner in the 30-strong field is his designated successor, Mohamed Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister. "It is a great pride that this date of December 27 has been respected," Bazoum said after voting. Bazoum's main rival, former prime minister Hama Amadou, was barred from contesting the vote on the grounds that in 2017 he was handed a 12-month jail term for baby trafficking -- a charge he says was bogus. The polling stations will close at 1800 GMT on Sunday, December 27. Partial results will be announced on Monday while full results will be available on Wednesday and Thursday. Niger has borne burnt of Jihadist violence on its southwestern border with Mali, and its southeastern frontier with Nigeria. A jihadist insurgency that has spilt across borders in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger claimed some 4,000 lives last year from jihadist violence and ethnic bloodshed stirred by Islamists, according to the UN. In Niger itself, hundreds have died in the past five years, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes. (With AFP inputs)

Niger citizens vote in a historic election

niger-elections

Niger Elections, News on Niger Elections, stories on Niger Elections, articles on Niger Elections, Niger Elections stories at Wion, Niger Elections news, Niger Elections latest news

niger elections

New Niger president lashes out at jihadist 'war crimes'

Seven poll workers killed by landmine as Niger votes in presidential runoff

Niger citizens vote in a historic election