Mamoudou Gazibo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Montréal. He is co-author, with Jane Jenson, of Comparative Politics: Foundations, Issues and Theoretical Approaches ( 2004) and Paradoxes of Democratization in Africa: Institutional and Strategic Analysis ( 2005). He has published numerous books and articles on comparative politics, democratization processes in Africa, China-Africa relations, and the challenges, for Africa, of the expansion of its relations with emerging countries. He has also been involved as an expert for the past ten years in democratization and development efforts in Africa led by international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union and the International Organization of the Francophonie. From 2010 to 2011, as part of the transition that allowed Niger’s return to a democratic regime, he chaired the Fundamental Texts Committee, responsible for drafting the preliminary draft constitution and seven other texts including the electoral code and the charter of political parties. During the same period, he served as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Niger on institutional issues. He is Grand Officier de l’Ordre National du Niger.