Why was the 2021 transfer of power from Mahamadou Issoufou to Mohamed Bazoum historically significant?

The 2021 transfer of power from Mahamadou Issoufou to Mohamed Bazoum was historically significant because it marked the first time in the history of Niger that power was transferred from one democratically elected leader to another.12

Issoufou, who served as president from 2011 to 2021, chose to abide by the constitutionally mandated two-term limit. His decision to step down and oversee a peaceful transition was widely recognized as a commitment to democratic principles, earning him the 2020 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. This transition occurred despite security challenges, including a reported attempted coup just days before the inauguration.12