Niger's president blames explosive birth rate on 'a misreading of Islam'

Mahamadou Issoufou calls for 'responsible parenthood' as he warns population boom will undermine climate adaptation

A misreading of Islam led to Niger's explosive birth rate, hampering the country's fight to adapt to the climate crisis and preserve its shrinking resources, the country's president told the Guardian.

Feted by Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel as one of Africa's most articulate leaders, Mahamadou Issoufou stressed that this nexus of issues is set to have an increasingly direct impact on European politics, warning migration may exceed the levels seen during the second world war.