King Mohammed represented at Niger president-elect's swearing-in ceremony

King Mohammed VI was represented at the swearing in ceremony of the president-elect of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, by Minister of Agriculture Habib Malki. The presence of a special representative of the king at the ceremony evidences the excellent relations existing between Morocco and Niger.

Following a military coup in Niger last April, a national reconciliation council was set up under the chairmanship of a military junta. The structure had then pledged to work for national reconciliation and for the return to a normal constitutional life. In July, Niger adopted a new constitution, and presidential elections held later on brought to power Mamadou Tandja.

In his address to the nation after the swearing-in ceremony, President Tandja pledged to restore the country's credibility abroad and to rehabilitate its capacity to benefit from assistance to development flows Niger is so direly needing.

Integration of women and youth and the promotion of the rural world are also on top of the new president's concerns.