Nigeriens swore-in Mohammed Bazoum as the country’s President amid heavy security, after an attempted coup was thwarted on Wednesday, two days earlier .
Bazoum, a former Interior Minister, succeeds Mamadou Issouffou, the immediate-past President in what is the West African nation’s first successful democratic transition in 60 years.
Issouffou stepped down from office after completing two terms of 5 years each. He described the transition to Bazoum as the most successful achievement of his government.
It is Niger’s first democratic switch since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Bazoum has critical security issues on his hands as the nation awaits an instant restoration of order after a coup attempt threatened to ruin the historic event.
The apex court of Niger confirmed the victory of the newly sworn-in President after a runoff was held.
Opposition candidate and former President, Ousmane Mahamane had rejected the results earlier citing fraud in how the election panned out.
