Ide Oumarou
Encyclopedia
Ide Oumarou was a Niger
ien diplomat, government minister, and journalist. He served as ambassador to the United Nations between 1980 and 1983. He then served as the foreign minister
between 1983 and 1985 and was secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity between 1985 and 1988. He was educated at the Ecole William Ponty
in Dakar and IHEOM in Paris. He was an editor and journalist at the Niger Ministry of Information, editor of state paper "Le Niger" from 1961 to 1963. He became director general of Information from 1963 to 1972, and then became director of Posts and Telecommunication for the Ministry. Following the 1974 Nigerien Coup d'état, he became Cabinet Chief and assistant to Military Head of State Seyni Kountche
, becoming a particularly close adviser
In July 1988, Oumarou was nominated to serve a second term as OAU General Secretary, but lost to Tanzania's Salim Salim.
After the death of Kountche, Oumarou became a cabinet adviser to new President, General Ali Saibou
, who appointed him a Minister of State without portfolio. Also a successful author, Oumarou's first book, entitled Gros Plan, won the 1978 Grand Prix Litteraire d' Afrique Francaise.
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 diplomat, government minister, and journalist. He served as ambassador to the United Nations between 1980 and 1983. He then served as the foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
between 1983 and 1985 and was secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity between 1985 and 1988. He was educated at the Ecole William Ponty
École normale supérieure William Ponty
École William Ponty was a government teachers' college in what is now Senegal. The school is now in Kolda, Senegal, where it is currently known as École de formation d’instituteurs William Ponty. It is associated with the French university IUFM at Livry-Gargan.-Notable alumni:Many of the school's...
in Dakar and IHEOM in Paris. He was an editor and journalist at the Niger Ministry of Information, editor of state paper "Le Niger" from 1961 to 1963. He became director general of Information from 1963 to 1972, and then became director of Posts and Telecommunication for the Ministry. Following the 1974 Nigerien Coup d'état, he became Cabinet Chief and assistant to Military Head of State Seyni Kountche
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...
, becoming a particularly close adviser
In July 1988, Oumarou was nominated to serve a second term as OAU General Secretary, but lost to Tanzania's Salim Salim.
After the death of Kountche, Oumarou became a cabinet adviser to new President, General 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...
, who appointed him a Minister of State without portfolio. Also a successful author, Oumarou's first book, entitled Gros Plan, won the 1978 Grand Prix Litteraire d' Afrique Francaise.