Brigi Rafini
Encyclopedia
Brigi Rafini is a Niger
ien politician who has been Prime Minister of Niger since 2011. A native of Iférouane
in Agadez Region and an ethnic Tuareg, Rafini was Minister of Agriculture in the late 1980s and Fourth Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger
from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed as Prime Minister after Mahamadou Issoufou
took office as President on 7 April 2011.
in Agadez Region, part of the Colony of Niger
in French West Africa
. Rafini attended primary and secondary school in Iférouane and Agadez
. From 1971 to 1974 he attended the National School of Administration (ENA) in Niamey
, returning for advanced study from 1978 to 1981. In 1983 he spent a year at the French International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP) in Paris
. He returned to Paris a decade later, to the French National School of Administration (ENA) from 1994 to 1995.
(MNSD) during the time it was the unitary party (1989-1991), left to join the breakaway faction that became the Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
(ANDP) during the democratic Third Republic (1993-1996), and helped form the ruling Rally for Democracy and Progress
(RDP-Jama'a) party during the presidency of Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
(1996-1999). He served as a parliamentarian and assembly officer under the RDP in opposition during the Fifth Republic (1999-2009). He has since been reported to have formally joined the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
(PNDS), elected to power in 2011.
, took office as President on 7 April 2011, he promptly appointed Rafini as Prime Minister. The 23-member government headed by Rafini was appointed on 21 April 2011.
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 Prime Minister of Niger since 2011. A native of Iférouane
Iferouane
Iferouane , also spelled Iferouan, is an oasis town in northern Niger, in Agadez Department. It is located northeast of Arlit in the northern Aïr,in the Ighazar valleynear the Tamgak Range....
in Agadez Region and an ethnic Tuareg, Rafini was Minister of Agriculture in the late 1980s and Fourth Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger
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:...
from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed as Prime Minister after 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...
took office as President on 7 April 2011.
Career
Brigi Rafini was born in 1953 at IférouaneIferouane
Iferouane , also spelled Iferouan, is an oasis town in northern Niger, in Agadez Department. It is located northeast of Arlit in the northern Aïr,in the Ighazar valleynear the Tamgak Range....
in Agadez Region, part of the Colony of Niger
Colony of Niger
The French Colony of Niger was a French Colonial possession covering much of the territory of the modern West African state of Niger, as well as portions of Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad...
in French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
. Rafini attended primary and secondary school in Iférouane and Agadez
Agadez
-Sources:* Aboubacar Adamou. "Agadez et sa région. Contribution à l'étude du Sahel et du Sahara nigériens", Études nigériennes, n°44, , 358 p.* Julien Brachet. Migrations transsahariennes. Vers un désert cosmopolite et morcelé . Paris: Le Croquant, , 324 p. ISBN : 978-2-91496865-2.*. Saudi Aaramco...
. From 1971 to 1974 he attended the National School of Administration (ENA) in Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
, returning for advanced study from 1978 to 1981. In 1983 he spent a year at the French International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He returned to Paris a decade later, to the French National School of Administration (ENA) from 1994 to 1995.
Political affiliation
Brigi Rafini, as a civil administrator, minister, and office holder, has represented four different political parties since the 1980s. He was a member of the National Movement for the Development of SocietyNational 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) during the time it was the unitary party (1989-1991), left to join the breakaway faction that became the Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
The Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress is a political party in Niger. Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye led the party from its foundation in the early 1990s until his death in 2009.- Second Republic :...
(ANDP) during the democratic Third Republic (1993-1996), and helped form the ruling Rally for Democracy and Progress
Rally for Democracy and Progress (Niger)
The Rally for Democracy and Progress is a political party in Niger. It was established as the ruling party during the presidency of Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara.-Under second military regime and Fourth Republic:...
(RDP-Jama'a) party during the presidency of Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara was a military officer in the West African country of Niger who seized power in a January 1996 coup d'état and ruled the country until his assassination during the military coup of April 1999....
(1996-1999). He served as a parliamentarian and assembly officer under the RDP in opposition during the Fifth Republic (1999-2009). He has since been reported to have formally joined the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism is a political party in Niger. It is a broadly left-wing party, part of the Socialist International; since 2011 it has been in power following the election of its long-time leader, Mahamadou Issoufou, as President of Niger. Mohamed Bazoum is Acting...
(PNDS), elected to power in 2011.
Prime Minister
When Mahamadou Issoufou, who won the January–March 2011 presidential electionNigerien 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...
, took office as President on 7 April 2011, he promptly appointed Rafini as Prime Minister. The 23-member government headed by Rafini was appointed on 21 April 2011.