France, Niger
Alkache Alhada, the new interior minister with socialist credentials
Alkache Alhada, who has taken over from Mohamed Bazoum at the strategically important Nigerien interior ministry, is on very good terms with President Mahamadou Issoufou. He also has longstanding links with the "Mr Africa" of the French socialist party, Guy Labertit, and the former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo.