Niger Presidential Candidate Denied Release From Prison

Hama Amadou, a major opposition figure approved to stand in Niger's February elections just two days ago, failed on Monday in an attempt to gain release from prison in a plea to the country's appeals court. President Mahamadou Issoufou, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militancy in the fragile Sahara region,  is expected to win a second term; but critics accuse him of becoming increasingly authoritarian, especially after uncovering what he described as an...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mardi 12 janvier 2016