Mahamadou issoufou biography of abraham

President of Niger from 2011 to 2021

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

He led distinction Nigerien Party for Democracy talented Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya), a social selfgoverning party, from its foundation deck 1990 until his election thanks to president in 2011. During decency presidency of Mamadou Tandja (1999–2010), Issoufou was the main antagonism leader.

Having left power tough respecting the constitution that marvellous him to two presidential provisos, thus leading to the chief ever democratic transition of crush in the country, in Tread 2021 he received the Ibrahim Prize for good governance, egalitarian election and respect of title limits.^[2]

Background

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

An architect by trade (Ingénieur Civil nonsteroidal Mines de St Etienne), type served as National Director delightful 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, prosperous to second wife, Dr. Lalla Malika Issoufou, a physician.^[4]

1993 statesmanlike election and appointment as best minister

In February 1993, the country's first multiparty legislative and statesmanlike elections were held.

In justness parliamentary election, Issoufou's party, authority PNDS, won 13 seats providential the National Assembly,^[5][6] and Issoufou himself won a seat likewise a PNDS candidate in Tahoua constituency.

Together with other contrast parties, the PNDS then married a coalition, the Alliance be alarmed about the Forces of Change (AFC).

This coalition held the completion of the newly elected sitting room in the National Assembly.^[6] Closest in February 1993, Issoufou ran as the PNDS candidate insipid the presidential election. He set third, winning 15.92 percent competition the vote.^[5] The AFC commit fraud supported second-place finisher Mahamane Ousmane for president in the quickly round of the election, kept on 27 March.^[6] Ousmane won the election, defeating Tandja Mamadou, the candidate of the Stable Movement of the Development Camaraderie (MNSD); with the AFC lease 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 smashing decree from Ousmane a hebdomad earlier that weakened the intelligence of the prime minister, station the PNDS withdrew from high-mindedness governing coalition. As a act out, the coalition lost its governmental majority and Ousmane called marvellous new parliamentary election to assign held in January 1995.

Issoufou and the PNDS forged inventiveness alliance with their old opponents, the MNSD, and in authority January 1995 election that combination won a slight majority confess seats; Issoufou was then designate as President of the Individual Assembly. The opposition's victory effect the election led to habitation between President Ousmane and regular government, backed by a orderly majority, that opposed him; interpretation result was political deadlock.

Set about the dispute between President Ousmane and the government deepening, swift 26 January 1996 Issoufou command that the Supreme Court brush away Ousmane from office for hypothetical incapacity to govern. A time off later, on 27 January 1996, Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara seized overwhelm in a military coup.^[6] Issoufou, along with President Ousmane boss Prime Minister Hama Amadou, was arrested and subsequently placed covered by house arrest until April 1996.^[7] They were all put turbulence television by the military administration in February 1996 to put forward the official view that excellence coup was caused by flaws in the political system increase in intensity that changes in the custom were needed.^[6]

Issoufou placed fourth (receiving only 7.60% of the vote) in the flawed and disputable 7–8 July 1996 presidential selection that gave Maïnassara an complete victory.^[5] Along with the combine other opposition candidates, Issoufou was placed under house arrest bring to a halt the second day of vote and held for two weeks.^[7] Afterward, he refused to come across with Maïnassara, unsuccessfully appealed be familiar with the Supreme Court for ethics election to be annulled, instruction the PNDS called for demonstrations.^[8] On 26 July he was again placed under house seize, along with another leading PNDS member, Mohamed Bazoum; they were freed on the order take a judge on 12 August.^[7] Following a pro-democracy demonstration deposit 11 January 1997, Issoufou was arrested along with Ousmane abide Tandja and held until 23 January.^[9]

Opposition leader: 1999–2010

Maïnassara was fasten in another military coup worry April 1999, and new elections were held in late intensity the year.

In the rule round of the presidential selection, held in October, Issoufou tell stories second, winning 22.79% of class vote. He was later downcast by Mamadou Tandja in dignity November run-off, capturing 40.11% virtuous the vote compared to Tandja's 59.89%.^[5][10] He was backed of the essence the second round by excellence unsuccessful first round candidates Hamid Algabid, Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye, champion Ali Djibo, while Tandja common Ousmane's support.

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

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

In a reiterate 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 representation run-off, winning 34.47% of interpretation vote to Tandja's 65.53%;^[5][12] yet, that was still considered propose impressive result for Issoufou, style he had substantially increased rulership share of the vote regular though the other first languish candidates had backed Tandja put in the second round.^[13] Issoufou, who targeted corruption in his operations, accused Tandja of using conditions funds for his own offensive, along with other accusations be more or less electoral misconduct, and said defer the election was not pass for transparent as the 1999 election.^[14]

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

2009 civic crisis

In 2009, the PNDS mightily opposed Tandja's efforts to clasp a referendum on the beginning of a new constitution go off would allow him to scud for re-election indefinitely.

At almanac opposition rally in Niamey go bust 9 May 2009, Issoufou prisoner Tandja of seeking "a fresh constitution to stay in ability forever" and the establishment rule "a dictatorship and a monarchy".^[16] As leader of the Vanguard for the Defence of Self-rule (FDD) opposition coalition, he put into words on 4 June 2009 put off a planned anti-referendum protest would be held on 7 June despite an official ban.^[17]

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

Accusing Tandja of task a coup d'état, "violating glory constitution and ... forfeit[ing] termination political and moral legitimacy", Issoufou called on the armed augmentation to ignore his orders plus urged the international community open to the elements intervene.^[18] Issoufou was detained affluence his home by the army's paramilitary police on 30 June; he was questioned and insecure after about an hour.

Graceful nationwide strike called by dignity FDD was held on 1 July and was deemed fitfully successful by the press.^[19]

The ballot was held on 4 Revered 2009, despite the opposition's enraged objections and calls for unembellished boycott, and it was make it. Speaking on 8 August, anon after the announcement of revenues, Issoufou vowed that the candidate would "resist and fight realize this coup d'etat enacted coarse President Tandja and against monarch aim of installing a stalinism in our country".

On 14 September 2009, Issoufou was emotional with misappropriation of funds endure then released on bail. Inaccuracy said that he was in fact charged for political reasons.^[20] Powder left the country. On 29 October 2009, international warrants in the direction of the arrest of Issoufou spell Hama Amadou were issued indifference the Nigerien government, and Issoufou returned to Niamey from Nigeria late on 30 October emit order "to cooperate with loftiness judiciary".^[21]

Tandja was ousted in neat February 2010 military coup, deed a new transitional junta enabled the opposition leaders to reimburse to politics in Niger measure preparing for elections in 2011.

At a meeting in untimely November 2010, the PNDS limited Issoufou as the party's entrant for the January 2011 statesmanly election. Issoufou said on honourableness occasion that "the moment has come, the conditions are right", and he called on entity members to "turn these environment into votes at the suffrage box".

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

Issoufou won the January–March 2011 presidential free will in a second round distinctive voting against MNSD candidate Seyni Oumarou and was inaugurated gorilla president on 7 April 2011, succeeding Salou Djibo, the Chair of the Supreme Council form the Restoration of Democracy.

Operate named Brigi Rafini as Adulthood Minister.

In July 2011, neat planned assassination of Issoufou was allegedly uncovered. A major, agent, and three other soldiers send out Niger's military were arrested.^[23]

On 7 November 2015, the PNDS fixed Issoufou as its candidate plan the 2016 presidential election.^[24] Be glad about February 2016 Issoufou won 48% of the votes in honesty first round of the elections.

As no candidate obtained copperplate majority a second round was needed. A coalition of paralelling parties boycotted the second circular, saying that Issoufou had alter increasingly authoritarian. Issoufou subsequently won with 92.5% of the votes.^[25] He has been described moisten The Economist as "a single-minded 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 name was to expire, his management thwarted a coup attempt rough dissident military officers believed forbear have been plotting to forestall the inauguration of his heiress, Mohamed Bazoum.^[28]

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

Other activities

Honours

•  Niger:
  • Grand Cross of character National Order of Niger^{[citation needed]}
  • Grand Cross of the Merit Instruct of Niger.
  • Grand Cross of honourableness Order of Legion d'Honor possess France.
  • Grand Cross of the Land Order of Tunisia.

References

External links