Nigerians choose their president

16/04/11 11:53 CET

world news

| |

Voting is underway in Nigeria, where the most populous African nation is choosing its president.

Since military rule ended in 1999 Nigeria has not succeeded in holding a free and fair presidential election and the belief in the benefits of democracy has faded from many in the country’s 150-million people.

But observers thought a parliamentary election last week was relatively successful and that has renewed confidence that this could prove to be Nigeria’s first credible presidential poll for decades.

The front-runner is the sitting president Goodluck Jonathan who has already cast his vote.

He is from the oil-producing Niger delta in the south, but many in the north feel it is the turn of their candidate, the former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.

More about: Africa, Nigeria, Presidential elections

| |

Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…