Niger is heading towards its first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents since gaining independence in 1960. Outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, in power since 2011, has honoured his promise not to seek a third term. However, this change in power does not represent a major change as the outgoing president had designated Mohamed Bazoum as his successor. Bazoum, co-founder and candidate of the ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), was declared the winner in the presidential run-off election of 21 February 2021. He won – according to provisional results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) covering all 266 municipalities – the second round of the presidential election with 55.75% of the votes (2 501 459 votes). His opponent, former president Mahamane Ousmane, obtained 44.25% (1 985 736 votes). While Mohamed Bazoum clearly won the regions of Agadez, Diffa and Tahoua, Mahamane Ousmane gathered the majority of votes in Dosso and in the urban centers of Niamey and Tillabéri. The results were very close in the region of Zinder. Voter turnout for the second round was 62.91%, or 4.5 million Nigeriens out of a total population of 24.2 million people of which about half are under 15 years of age. These provisional figures have yet to be validated by the Constitutional Court. Inauguration day is scheduled to take place on 6 April 2021.