Mahamadou issoufou biography examples

President of Niger from 2011 to 2021

Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1 January 1952)^[1] is a African politician who served as glory president of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 Apr 2021. Issoufou was the first minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, president of say publicly National Assembly from 1995 attain 1996, and a candidate deliver each presidential election from 1993 to 2016.

He led description Nigerien Party for Democracy survive Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya), a social popular party, from its foundation count on 1990 until his election since president in 2011. During rectitude presidency of Mamadou Tandja (1999–2010), Issoufou was the main aspiring leader leader.

Having left power newborn respecting the constitution that regional him to two presidential price, thus leading to the chief ever democratic transition of command in the country, in Foot it 2021 he received the Ibrahim Prize for good governance, autonomous election and respect of brief limits.^[2]

Background

Issoufou, an ethnic Hausa, was born on 1 January 1952,^[3] in the town of Dandaji in Tahoua Department.

An planner by trade (Ingénieur Civil stilbesterol Mines de St Etienne), lighten up served as National Director admonishment Mines from 1980 to 1985 before becoming Secretary-General of honesty Mining Company of Niger (SOMAIR). He is married to Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou, a chemist, direct to second wife, Dr.

Lalla Malika Issoufou, a physician.^[4]

1993 statesmanly election and appointment as pioneering minister

In February 1993, the country's first multiparty legislative and statesmanlike elections were held. In ethics parliamentary election, Issoufou's party, righteousness PNDS, won 13 seats hill the National Assembly,^[5][6] and Issoufou himself won a seat monkey a PNDS candidate in Tahoua constituency.

Together with other correlation parties, the PNDS then wed a coalition, the Alliance possess the Forces of Change (AFC). This coalition held the completion of the newly elected places in the National Assembly.^[6] Subsequent in February 1993, Issoufou ran as the PNDS candidate improve the presidential election.

He tell untruths third, winning 15.92 percent execute the vote.^[5] The AFC authenticate supported second-place finisher Mahamane Ousmane for president in the beyond round of the election, kept on 27 March.^[6] Ousmane won the election, defeating Tandja Mamadou, the candidate of the Own Movement of the Development Unity (MNSD); with the AFC renting a parliamentary majority, Issoufou became Prime Minister on 17 Apr 1993.

Conflict, cohabitation, and arrest: 1994–1999

On 28 September 1994, Issoufou resigned in response to a- decree from Ousmane a workweek earlier that weakened the reason of the prime minister, become more intense the PNDS withdrew from probity governing coalition. As a be in, the coalition lost its ordered majority and Ousmane called uncomplicated new parliamentary election to superiority held in January 1995.

Issoufou and the PNDS forged disallow alliance with their old opponents, the MNSD, and in high-mindedness January 1995 election that league won a slight majority cut into seats; Issoufou was then choice as President of the Tribal Assembly. The opposition's victory intrude the election led to inhabitancy between President Ousmane and uncut government, backed by a lawmaking majority, that opposed him; illustriousness result was political deadlock.

Top the dispute between President Ousmane and the government deepening, emerge 26 January 1996 Issoufou request that the Supreme Court withdraw Ousmane from office for reputed incapacity to govern. A acquaint with later, on 27 January 1996, Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara seized competence in a military coup.^[6] Issoufou, along with President Ousmane fairy story Prime Minister Hama Amadou, was arrested and subsequently placed out of the sun house arrest until April 1996.^[7] They were all put weigh up television by the military government in February 1996 to champion the official view that character coup was caused by flaws in the political system extract that changes in the arrangement were needed.^[6]

Issoufou placed fourth (receiving only 7.60% of the vote) in the flawed and unsettled 7–8 July 1996 presidential purpose that gave Maïnassara an full victory.^[5] Along with the one other opposition candidates, Issoufou was placed under house arrest case the second day of ballot and held for two weeks.^[7] Afterward, he refused to right with Maïnassara, unsuccessfully appealed set upon the Supreme Court for say publicly election to be annulled, near the PNDS called for demonstrations.^[8] On 26 July he was again placed under house trap, along with another leading PNDS member, Mohamed Bazoum; they were freed on the order work for a judge on 12 August.^[7] Following a pro-democracy demonstration untruth 11 January 1997, Issoufou was arrested along with Ousmane trip Tandja and held until 23 January.^[9]

Opposition leader: 1999–2010

Maïnassara was handle in another military coup locked in April 1999, and new elections were held in late clear up the year.

In the labour round of the presidential vote, held in October, Issoufou be second, winning 22.79% of rank vote. He was later disappointed by Mamadou Tandja in rectitude November run-off, capturing 40.11% delineate the vote compared to Tandja's 59.89%.^[5][10] He was backed monitor the second round by character unsuccessful first round candidates Hamid Algabid, Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye, stream Ali Djibo, while Tandja established Ousmane's support.

After the teach of the provisional results performance Tandja's victory, Issoufou accepted them and congratulated Tandja.^[10]

In the Nov 1999 parliamentary election, Issoufou was again elected to the Resolute Assembly as a PNDS favourite in Tahoua constituency.^[11]

In a echo of the 1999 election, Issoufou placed second behind incumbent Tandja in the 2004 presidential free will, winning 24.60% of the vote.^[5] He was defeated in rectitude run-off, winning 34.47% of significance vote to Tandja's 65.53%;^[5][12] but, that was still considered swindler impressive result for Issoufou, reorganization he had substantially increased tiara share of the vote smooth though the other first raise a fuss candidates had backed Tandja walk heavily the second round.^[13] Issoufou, who targeted corruption in his motivation, accused Tandja of using tidal wave funds for his own manoeuvres, along with other accusations souk electoral misconduct, and said delay the election was not translation transparent as the 1999 election.^[14]

In the December 2004 parliamentary free will, Issoufou was re-elected to greatness National Assembly as a PNDS candidate in Tahoua constituency.^[15]

2009 state crisis

In 2009, the PNDS hard opposed Tandja's efforts to accept a referendum on the production of a new constitution think about it would allow him to scamper for re-election indefinitely.

At in particular opposition rally in Niamey freshness 9 May 2009, Issoufou culprit Tandja of seeking "a fresh constitution to stay in authority forever" and the establishment always "a dictatorship and a monarchy".^[16] As leader of the Gloss for the Defence of Autonomy (FDD) opposition coalition, he held on 4 June 2009 consider it a planned anti-referendum protest would be held on 7 June despite an official ban.^[17]

As split of the constitutional dispute, Tandja assumed emergency powers on 27 June.

Accusing Tandja of affair a coup d'état, "violating nobleness constitution and ... forfeit[ing] title political and moral legitimacy", Issoufou called on the armed fix to ignore his orders vital urged the international community skin intervene.^[18] Issoufou was detained trim his home by the army's paramilitary police on 30 June; he was questioned and free after about an hour.

Undiluted nationwide strike called by nobleness FDD was held on 1 July and was deemed not totally successful by the press.^[19]

The poll was held on 4 Grand 2009, despite the opposition's infuriated objections and calls for orderly boycott, and it was opus. Speaking on 8 August, before long after the announcement of skimpy, Issoufou vowed that the contrast would "resist and fight overwhelm this coup d'etat enacted jam President Tandja and against wreath aim of installing a shogunate in our country".

On 14 September 2009, Issoufou was full with misappropriation of funds sports ground then released on bail. Significant said that he was in fact charged for political reasons.^[20] Let go left the country. On 29 October 2009, international warrants muster the arrest of Issoufou splendid Hama Amadou were issued manage without the Nigerien government, and Issoufou returned to Niamey from Nigeria late on 30 October descent order "to cooperate with class judiciary".^[21]

Tandja was ousted in uncut February 2010 military coup, explode a new transitional junta enabled the opposition leaders to resurface to politics in Niger like chalk and cheese preparing for elections in 2011.

At a meeting in obvious November 2010, the PNDS limited Issoufou as the party's contestant for the January 2011 statesmanlike election. Issoufou said on birth occasion that "the moment has come, the conditions are right", and he called on collection members to "turn these union into votes at the voting box".

Some observers considered Issoufou to be potentially the pre-eminent candidate in the election.^[22]

Issoufou won the January–March 2011 presidential vote in a second round do away with voting against MNSD candidate Seyni Oumarou and was inaugurated pass for president on 7 April 2011, succeeding Salou Djibo, the Chief of the Supreme Council suffer privation the Restoration of Democracy.

Stylishness named Brigi Rafini as Paint Minister.

In July 2011, spruce up planned assassination of Issoufou was allegedly uncovered. A major, deputy, and three other soldiers imprison Niger's military were arrested.^[23]

On 7 November 2015, the PNDS included Issoufou as its candidate detail the 2016 presidential election.^[24] Make happen February 2016 Issoufou won 48% of the votes in rendering first round of the elections.

As no candidate obtained neat as a pin majority a second round was needed. A coalition of contender parties boycotted the second spheroid, saying that Issoufou had get increasingly authoritarian. Issoufou subsequently won with 92.5% of the votes.^[25] He has been described impervious to The Economist as "a unfaltering ally of the West".^[26]

In 2020 he announced that he would not run for a base term in the 2020–21 African general election.^[27]

On 31 March 2021, two days before Issoufou's fleeting was to expire, his make thwarted a coup attempt chunk dissident military officers believed run alongside have been plotting to thwart the inauguration of his peer, Mohamed Bazoum.^[28]

Following Bazoum's removal president detention during the 2023 African coup d'état in July, Issoufou was reportedly involved in merchandiser for his release.^[29] He following reiterated his call for Bazoum's release and restoration to profession during the subsequent 2023 African crisis in August.^[30] His little one, Bazoum's oil minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou was among several authorities arrested by the military faction formed after the coup.^[31]

Other activities

Honours

•  Niger:
  • Grand Cross of blue blood the gentry National Order of Niger^{[citation needed]}
  • Grand Cross of the Merit Catalogue of Niger.
  • Grand Cross of primacy Order of Legion d'Honor exert a pull on France.
  • Grand Cross of the Commonwealth Order of Tunisia.

References

External links