Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou was sworn in for another five-year term Saturday after a controversial election boycotted by the opposition.
Issoufou took the oath of office in Niamey in front of a crowd that included a number of African leaders.
He promised Niger would remain involved in the fight against Islamist militants who have spread chaos and death across northern Africa.
"Terrorism is an absolute evil," Issoufou said in his inaugural speech. "As long as terrorism is not eradicated in northern Mali and as along as Libya is not stabilized, we will not be able to sleep in peace."
Issoufou was re-elected in a runoff with about 92 percent of the vote. The opposition boycotted the election when its candidate, Hama Amadou, was jailed on what it said were phony baby-trafficking charges.
Amadou was freed on bail late last month after falling ill in prison four days before the runoff election and was flown to Paris for treatment.
Despite its mineral wealth, Niger is one of Africa's most impoverished countries. The president has promised his new government will be one that unifies the nation and pursue economic and social development.
