February 21
19:08
2016
Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is seeking re-election vowing to keep the nation safe from terror attacks, is nicknamed the "Lion" for his political prowess and capacity to pounce at the right time. "He's a great tactician and has a sharp mind," said an expert on Niger politics, recalling that Issoufou's chequered past bore testimony to his survival skills. A mining engineer who worked for French nuclear giant Areva which mines uranium in northern Niger, Issoufou has contested every presidential election since 1993 but was beaten in 1999 and 2004 by his charismatic rival Mamadou Tandja.
