Albadé Abouba
Encyclopedia
Albadé Abouba is a Niger
ien politician who has been the Secretary-General of the National Movement for the Development of Society
(MNSD-Nassara) since 2009. He served in the government of Niger as Minister of the Interior
from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2010. Abouba also served as Prime Minister in an acting capacity for a brief period in September–October 2009.
) Fulani
from the area of Kao
in Tchin-Tabaraden District
, which is part of Tahoua Department
. He served for a time as sub-prefect of Arlit District
, and he was appointed as Minister of the Interior and Decentralization in the government named on 8 November 2002. In order to maintain the balance of party and regional representation in the government, Abouba was dismissed in December 2004 so that the government would not include three MNSD ministers from Tahoua Department. He was instead appointed as Adviser to the Presidency, while holding the rank of Minister.
Abouba was again appointed to the government as Minister of the Interior and Decentralization on 1 March 2007, and in the government of Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou
, named on June 9, 2007, he was promoted to the position of Minister of State for the Interior, Public Security, and Decentralization.
When Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou
resigned on 23 September 2009 in order to stand as a candidate in the October 2009 parliamentary election
, President Mamadou Tandja appointed Abouba to succeed Oumarou in an acting capacity. He was replaced by Ali Badjo Gamatié
on 2 October 2009.
Following fighting between the army and an unidentified group near the Mali
an border, in which seven soldiers and a civilian were said to have been killed, Abouba announced on 7 January 2010 that the group had been "neutralised", with 11 of them killed and a number of them captured.
As Minister of State for the Interior and Secretary-General of the MNSD, Abouba was a key associate of President Tandja. When Tandja was ousted in a military coup
on 18 February 2010, Abouba and other members of the government were detained. Abouba was one of several ministers who were not promptly released from house arrest
in the days after the coup. According to one of the junta leaders, Colonel Djibrilla Hamidou Hima, the ministers "still under surveillance" had held "very sensitive portfolios" and therefore it was necessary "to ensure their security". The MNSD called for the release of Abouba, Tandja, and the others. The other ministers were eventually released on 4 March, but Abouba and Tandja remained in detention.
After the MNSD issued another demand for the "unconditional and immediate release" of Abouba and Tandja, the head of the junta, Salou Djibo
, said on 31 July 2010 that they would not be released.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
ien politician who has been the Secretary-General of the National Movement for the Development of Society
National Movement for the Development of Society
The National Movement for the Society of Development - MNSD / MNSD-Nassara is a political party in Niger. Founded under the military government of the 1974-1990 period, it was the ruling party of Niger from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1999 until a coup on February 18, 2010, by a military junta...
(MNSD-Nassara) since 2009. He served in the government of Niger as Minister of the Interior
Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization (Niger)
The Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization of the Government of Niger is the government authority responsible for policing, internal security and the ongoing process of decentralization of authority to the Regions, Departments, and Communes of Niger. The National Police and...
from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2010. Abouba also served as Prime Minister in an acting capacity for a brief period in September–October 2009.
Political career
Abouba is a Bororo (WodaabeWodaabe
The Wodaabe or Bororo are a small subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group. They are traditionally nomadic cattle-herders and traders in the Sahel, with migrations stretching from southern Niger, through northern Nigeria, northeastern Cameroon, and the western region of the Central African Republic....
) Fulani
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
from the area of Kao
Kao, Niger
-References:...
in Tchin-Tabaraden District
Tchin-Tabaraden
Tchin-Tabaraden is a town and commune located in the Azawagh area of Niger, in the north of the Tahoua Region.It is the capital of the Region's Tchin-Tabaraden Department. It is the market center for the Iwillimidan Tuareg...
, which is part of Tahoua Department
Tahoua Department
Tahoua is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Tahoua. It includes the towns of Bambay and Kalkou....
. He served for a time as sub-prefect of Arlit District
Arlit
Arlit is an industrial town and capital of the Arlit Department of the Agadez Region of northern-central Niger, built between the Sahara desert and the eastern edge of the Aïr mountains. It is 200 km south by road from the border with Algeria...
, and he was appointed as Minister of the Interior and Decentralization in the government named on 8 November 2002. In order to maintain the balance of party and regional representation in the government, Abouba was dismissed in December 2004 so that the government would not include three MNSD ministers from Tahoua Department. He was instead appointed as Adviser to the Presidency, while holding the rank of Minister.
Abouba was again appointed to the government as Minister of the Interior and Decentralization on 1 March 2007, and in the government of Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou
Seyni Oumarou
Seyni Oumarou is a Nigerien politician who was Prime Minister of Niger from June 2007 to September 2009 and President of the National Assembly of Niger from November 2009 to February 2010. He is from the west of the country and is a member of the Djerma ethnic group...
, named on June 9, 2007, he was promoted to the position of Minister of State for the Interior, Public Security, and Decentralization.
When Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou
Seyni Oumarou
Seyni Oumarou is a Nigerien politician who was Prime Minister of Niger from June 2007 to September 2009 and President of the National Assembly of Niger from November 2009 to February 2010. He is from the west of the country and is a member of the Djerma ethnic group...
resigned on 23 September 2009 in order to stand as a candidate in the October 2009 parliamentary election
Nigerien parliamentary election, 2009
A parliamentary election was held in Niger on 20 October 2009, in the wake of President Mamadou Tandja's dissolution of the National Assembly in May 2009 and a successful constitution referendum in August 2009.-Election date:...
, President Mamadou Tandja appointed Abouba to succeed Oumarou in an acting capacity. He was replaced by Ali Badjo Gamatié
Ali Badjo Gamatié
Ali Badjo Gamatié is a Nigerien politician and civil servant who served as Prime Minister of Niger from October 2009 to February 2010. He was Finance Minister of Niger from 2000 to 2003 and then served as Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of West African States before being appointed as Prime...
on 2 October 2009.
Following fighting between the army and an unidentified group near the Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
an border, in which seven soldiers and a civilian were said to have been killed, Abouba announced on 7 January 2010 that the group had been "neutralised", with 11 of them killed and a number of them captured.
As Minister of State for the Interior and Secretary-General of the MNSD, Abouba was a key associate of President Tandja. When Tandja was ousted in a military coup
2010 Nigerien coup d'état
A coup d'état occurred in Niger on 18 February 2010. Soldiers attacked the presidential palace in Niamey under weapons fire at midday and captured President Mamadou Tandja, who was chairing a government meeting at the time...
on 18 February 2010, Abouba and other members of the government were detained. Abouba was one of several ministers who were not promptly released from house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
in the days after the coup. According to one of the junta leaders, Colonel Djibrilla Hamidou Hima, the ministers "still under surveillance" had held "very sensitive portfolios" and therefore it was necessary "to ensure their security". The MNSD called for the release of Abouba, Tandja, and the others. The other ministers were eventually released on 4 March, but Abouba and Tandja remained in detention.
After the MNSD issued another demand for the "unconditional and immediate release" of Abouba and Tandja, the head of the junta, Salou Djibo
Salou Djibo
Lieutenant General Salou Djibo is a Nigerien military officer. Following the military coup of 18 February 2010, he became head of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy and thus de facto leader of Niger....
, said on 31 July 2010 that they would not be released.