Amadou Cheiffou
Encyclopedia
Amadou Cheiffou is a Niger
ien politician. He was the transitional Prime Minister of Niger
from 26 October 1991 to 17 April 1993. He currently leads the Social Democratic Rally
(RSD-Gaskiya), a political party that he founded in January 2004, and he was the President of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of Niger (CESOC) from January 2006 to February 2010.
and was born in Kornaka
, in Maradi Department. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Cheiffou worked in Dakar
as a representative of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) for Central and West Africa. He was a delegate for the Association of Nigeriens Abroad at the 1991 National Conference; at the Conference, he was the compromise choice for the position of Prime Minister, although he was opposed by the delegates representing the government, and was elected on 26 October. His selection as Prime Minister was aided by his political inexperience and lack of association with the old regime of Seyni Kountché
and Ali Saibou
. Cheiffou headed the transitional government that served from 1991 to 1993, during the transitional period leading to multiparty elections. He also served as Minister of National Defense during that period. Along with President Saibou and André Salifou
, the President of the High Council of the Republic, he was prohibited by the National Conference from standing as a candidate in the February 1993 presidential election
.
As of 2002, Cheiffou was the ICAO's Regional Director for its Western and Central African Office.
Cheiffou was Vice-President of the Democratic and Social Convention
(CDS-Rahama) before splitting with that party and its President, Mahamane Ousmane
, and creating his own party, the Social Democratic Rally
(RSD-Gaskiya), in January 2004. In the presidential election
held on 16 November 2004, Cheiffou placed fourth out of six candidates, winning 6.35% of the vote. He was elected to the National Assembly
in the December 2004 parliamentary election
as an RSD candidate in Maradi constituency.
When the 85-member Economic, Social and Cultural Council (CESOC) was installed by President Mamadou Tandja on January 3, 2006, Cheiffou became President of CESOC.
The RSD supported President Tandja during the 2009 political crisis, and it participated in the October 2009 parliamentary election
. The opposition, angered by President Tandja's efforts to change the constitution so that he could remain in power, boycotted the election. ECOWAS, which had wanted the election delayed in hopes of resolving the political crisis, suspended Niger from its ranks immediately after the election was held. Cheiffou was included in the 22-member Nigerien delegation that traveled to Abuja
for talks with ECOWAS beginning on November 9, 2009.
Still serving as President of CESOC, Cheiffou stood as a candidate in the December 2009 local elections and was elected as a municipal councillor in Kornaka. Cheiffou's decision to run for local office was considered striking, as it was rare for major political leaders in Niger to do so.
Tandja was ousted in a February 2010 military coup. In the January 2011 presidential election
, held under a transitional junta, Cheiffou stood again as a candidate, but received only a small share of the vote. On 10 February 2011, he announced his support for Mahamadou Issoufou
, who had placed first, in the March 2011 second round. He backed Issoufou along with many other unsuccessful candidates, buttressing Issoufou's position against his second round opponent, Seyni Oumarou
.
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. He was the transitional Prime Minister of Niger
Heads of government of Niger
-List of Heads of Government of Niger:-Affiliations:-See also:*Niger*List of colonial heads of Niger*Heads of State of Niger*Lists of Incumbents-References:*...
from 26 October 1991 to 17 April 1993. He currently leads the Social Democratic Rally
Social Democratic Rally
The Social Democratic Rally is a political party in Niger. Its president is Amadou Cheiffou and its first secretary-general is Mahamadou Ali Tchémogo.-Founding and 2004 elections:...
(RSD-Gaskiya), a political party that he founded in January 2004, and he was the President of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of Niger (CESOC) from January 2006 to February 2010.
Political career
Cheiffou is an ethnic FulaFula 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...
and was born in Kornaka
Kornaka
-References:...
, in Maradi Department. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Cheiffou worked in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
as a representative of the International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
(ICAO) for Central and West Africa. He was a delegate for the Association of Nigeriens Abroad at the 1991 National Conference; at the Conference, he was the compromise choice for the position of Prime Minister, although he was opposed by the delegates representing the government, and was elected on 26 October. His selection as Prime Minister was aided by his political inexperience and lack of association with the old regime of Seyni Kountché
Seyni Kountché
Seyni Kountché was a Nigerien military officer who led a 1974 coup d'état that deposed the government of Niger's first president, Hamani Diori. He ruled the country as military head of state from 1974 to 1987...
and Ali Saibou
Ali Saibou
Ali Saibou was the third President of Niger from 1987 to 1993 succeeding the deceased Seyni Kountché.A member of the Djerma people, he was born in Dingajibanda, a village in the Ouallam arrondissement. Although from Kountché's home village, Saibou is not a cousin...
. Cheiffou headed the transitional government that served from 1991 to 1993, during the transitional period leading to multiparty elections. He also served as Minister of National Defense during that period. Along with President Saibou and André Salifou
André Salifou
André Salifou is a Nigerien politician, diplomat, and professor. He was President of the High Council of the Republic during the 1991–93 transitional period, Foreign Minister in 1996, and an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1999....
, the President of the High Council of the Republic, he was prohibited by the National Conference from standing as a candidate in the February 1993 presidential election
Nigerien presidential election, 1993
Presidential elections were held in Niger on 28 February 1993, with a second round on 28 March after no candidate passed the 50% barrier in the first round. They followed the constitutional changes approved in a referendum the previous year, which re-introduced multi-party democracy, and were the...
.
As of 2002, Cheiffou was the ICAO's Regional Director for its Western and Central African Office.
Cheiffou was Vice-President of the Democratic and Social Convention
Democratic and Social Convention
The Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama is a political party in Niger. It was founded in January 1991. In the 1993 presidential election, the party's leader, Mahamane Ousmane, was elected president...
(CDS-Rahama) before splitting with that party and its President, Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane is a Nigerien politician. He was the first democratically elected and fourth President of Niger, serving from 16 April 1993 until his ouster in a military coup d'état on 27 January 1996. He has continued to run for President in each election since his ouster, and he was President...
, and creating his own party, the Social Democratic Rally
Social Democratic Rally
The Social Democratic Rally is a political party in Niger. Its president is Amadou Cheiffou and its first secretary-general is Mahamadou Ali Tchémogo.-Founding and 2004 elections:...
(RSD-Gaskiya), in January 2004. In the presidential election
Niger presidential election, 2004
The Republic of Niger held a presidential election on 16 November 2004. Voter turnout in this round of polling was 48.3%. It was won by Tandja Mamadou.-Candidates:Six candidates contested the election:...
held on 16 November 2004, Cheiffou placed fourth out of six candidates, winning 6.35% of the vote. He was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Niger
The unicameral National Assembly of Niger is the country's sole legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.-History:...
in the December 2004 parliamentary election
Nigerien parliamentary election, 2004
A parliamentary election was held in Niger on 4 December 2004 alongside a simultaneous presidential election. 105 members were elected in 8 multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system...
as an RSD candidate in Maradi constituency.
When the 85-member Economic, Social and Cultural Council (CESOC) was installed by President Mamadou Tandja on January 3, 2006, Cheiffou became President of CESOC.
The RSD supported President Tandja during the 2009 political crisis, and it participated 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:...
. The opposition, angered by President Tandja's efforts to change the constitution so that he could remain in power, boycotted the election. ECOWAS, which had wanted the election delayed in hopes of resolving the political crisis, suspended Niger from its ranks immediately after the election was held. Cheiffou was included in the 22-member Nigerien delegation that traveled to Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
for talks with ECOWAS beginning on November 9, 2009.
Still serving as President of CESOC, Cheiffou stood as a candidate in the December 2009 local elections and was elected as a municipal councillor in Kornaka. Cheiffou's decision to run for local office was considered striking, as it was rare for major political leaders in Niger to do so.
Tandja was ousted in a February 2010 military coup. In the January 2011 presidential election
Nigerien presidential election, 2011
The Republic of Niger held a presidential election on 31 January 2011. The first round was to be held on January 3 and the second round on January 31, but those dates were postponed to 31 January 2011 and 12 March 2011...
, held under a transitional junta, Cheiffou stood again as a candidate, but received only a small share of the vote. On 10 February 2011, he announced his support for Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou is a Nigerien politician who has been President of Niger since 7 April 2011. Previously he was Prime Minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994 and President of the National Assembly from 1995 to 1996, and he has stood as a candidate in each presidential election since 1993.Issoufou...
, who had placed first, in the March 2011 second round. He backed Issoufou along with many other unsuccessful candidates, buttressing Issoufou's position against his second round opponent, 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...
.