Seyni Oumarou
Encyclopedia
Seyni Oumarou is a Niger
ien 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. Since November 2008, he has been the President of the National Movement for the Development of Society
(MNSD).
. His family name, Seyni, usually precedes his given name, and is sometimes spelled Seini or Seïni. He was Director-General of the Nigerien Paper Transformation Enterprise (ENITRAP) from 1987 to 1998, and in 1995 he became Special Adviser to Prime Minister Hama Amadou
.
Oumarou was appointed to the government as Minister of Trade and Industry on April 16, 1999 under the transitional military regime of Daouda Malam Wanké
, and following elections he remained in his position as part of the government of Hama Amadou (who returned as Prime Minister), which was named on January 5, 2000. He was then named Minister of Trade and the Promotion of the Private Sector on September 17, 2001 and Minister of Trade, Industry, the Craft Industry, and the Promotion of the Private Sector on February 12, 2004. On November 12, 2004, following a number of resignations by ministers contesting that year's elections, Oumarou was additionally placed in charge of public health, the fight against endemic diseases, and hospital reforms, until he was named Minister of State for Equipment in a new government on December 30, 2004. In that position he was the third ranking member of the government (after Amadou and Minister of State Abdou Labo
).
on May 31, 2007. President Mamadou Tandja chose Oumarou to succeed Amadou as Prime Minister on June 3; Oumarou had been proposed for the position by the MNSD and was one of three candidates presented to Tandja by the National Assembly. Oumarou's appointment was opposed by the main opposition party, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
(PNDS), as well as a number of civil society organizations, because he was so closely associated with his predecessor and possibly tainted by the same corruption scandal related to embezzlement of education funds that caused the no-confidence vote against Amadou. Oumarou was sworn in as Prime Minister on June 7, and his new government was named on June 9, with 32 members (including Oumarou).
In 2007, Oumarou was President of the MNSD section in Tillabéri, as well as a Vice-President of the MNSD National Political Bureau.
In June 2008, Amadou was arrested on charges of embezzlement. Despite conflict with some MNSD activists still loyal to Amadou, Oumarou was named interim head of the party.
In January 2009, Oumarou's government asked the National Assembly to strip three MNSD deputies of their immunity from prosecution. Shortly thereafter, Amadou supporters tabled a motion of no confidence against Oumarou.
In August 2009, a constitutional referendum
providing for a three year extension of Tandja's term was successful amidst an opposition boycott. A parliamentary election
was planned for October 2009, and Oumarou headed the MNSD's candidate list in Tillabéri. Because he was standing as a parliamentary candidate, he had to resign from the government, and on September 24, 2009 state media reported that he had resigned, along with two other ministers who were also running. Albade Abouba
, the Minister of the Interior, was appointed to replace him as Prime Minister in an acting capacity.
Following the parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the opposition, the regional organization ECOWAS—which had wanted the election delayed in hopes of resolving the political crisis—suspended Niger from its ranks. Oumarou headed the 22-member Nigerien delegation that traveled to Abuja
for talks with ECOWAS beginning on November 9, 2009.
Having won a seat in the National Assembly, Oumarou was elected as President of the National Assembly on November 25, 2009. The vote was unanimous, with all of the 109 deputies who were present voting in favor of his candidacy. Oumarou said on the occasion that he would work to restore the National Assembly's image in the wake of the controversies of the preceding months.
Dissatisfied by the ongoing political crisis, the military seized power
on February 18, 2010, ousting Tandja and immediately dissolving the National Assembly. Unlike Tandja and Abouba, Oumarou was initially not detained by the new junta; however, he was arrested on 29 March 2010, along with a number of other high-ranking associates and loyalists of Tandja. According to Ousmane Cissé
, the Minister of the Interior, they were arrested because they were involved in "subversive activities and undermining of the government and the transition process". Cissé stressed that any activity aimed at undermining the government or stirring unrest would be punished. Nevertheless, the junta released Oumarou and the others on 2 April 2010. Cissé, the Interior Minister, said that their "destabilisation operation" had been "neutralised" and that the suspects were being released "to calm things down".
A few months later, Oumarou was accused of embezzlement and arrested on 29 July 2010. The Commission to Fight Financial Crime alleged that he owed the state 270 million CFA francs. The MNSD expressed outrage at the arrest of Oumarou, who was expected to be the MNSD's candidate for the January 2011 presidential election
, and demanded his release; it said that the charge against him was a politically motivated effort to smear and marginalize the party. On 2 August 2010, Oumarou was charged and released on bail.
The MNSD announced on 10 August 2010 that Oumarou had been designated as its presidential candidate at a party congress but he was defeated by Mahamadou Issoufou
.
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 was Prime Minister of Niger from June 2007 to September 2009 and 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 November 2009 to February 2010. He is from the west of the country and is a member of the Djerma
Djerma
The Zarma people , are a people of westernmost Niger and adjacent areas of Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria. The Zarma language is one of the Songhai languages, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family...
ethnic group. Since November 2008, he has been the President 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).
Early career
Oumarou was born in TillabériTillabéri
Tillabéri is a town in northwest Niger. It is situated 120 km northwest of the capital Niamey on the River Niger. It is an important market town and administrative center, it is capital of the department of Tillabéri and Tillabéri Region. The town had a population of over 16000 at the 2001 census...
. His family name, Seyni, usually precedes his given name, and is sometimes spelled Seini or Seïni. He was Director-General of the Nigerien Paper Transformation Enterprise (ENITRAP) from 1987 to 1998, and in 1995 he became Special Adviser to Prime Minister Hama Amadou
Hama Amadou
Hama Amadou is a Nigerien politician who was Prime Minister of Niger from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2007. He was also Secretary-General of the National Movement for the Development of Society from 1991 to 2001 and President of the MNSD-Nassara from 2001 to 2009...
.
Oumarou was appointed to the government as Minister of Trade and Industry on April 16, 1999 under the transitional military regime of Daouda Malam Wanké
Daouda Malam Wanké
Daouda Malam Wanké was a military and political leader in Niger. He was a member of Hausa ethnic group.Wanké's year of birth is disputed. Many sources claim it is 1954 while others 1946.-Biography:...
, and following elections he remained in his position as part of the government of Hama Amadou (who returned as Prime Minister), which was named on January 5, 2000. He was then named Minister of Trade and the Promotion of the Private Sector on September 17, 2001 and Minister of Trade, Industry, the Craft Industry, and the Promotion of the Private Sector on February 12, 2004. On November 12, 2004, following a number of resignations by ministers contesting that year's elections, Oumarou was additionally placed in charge of public health, the fight against endemic diseases, and hospital reforms, until he was named Minister of State for Equipment in a new government on December 30, 2004. In that position he was the third ranking member of the government (after Amadou and Minister of State Abdou Labo
Abdou Labo
Abdou Labo is a Nigerien politician and a member of the Democratic and Social Convention . He served in the government of Niger as Minister of Defense from 1994 to 1995, as Minister of Equipment from 2000 to 2002, as Minister of State for Sports and Culture from 2002 to 2004, and then as Minister...
).
As Prime Minister
Oumarou remained Minister of State for Equipment until Amadou and his government lost a no-confidence vote in the National AssemblyNational 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:...
on May 31, 2007. President Mamadou Tandja chose Oumarou to succeed Amadou as Prime Minister on June 3; Oumarou had been proposed for the position by the MNSD and was one of three candidates presented to Tandja by the National Assembly. Oumarou's appointment was opposed by the main opposition party, 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), as well as a number of civil society organizations, because he was so closely associated with his predecessor and possibly tainted by the same corruption scandal related to embezzlement of education funds that caused the no-confidence vote against Amadou. Oumarou was sworn in as Prime Minister on June 7, and his new government was named on June 9, with 32 members (including Oumarou).
In 2007, Oumarou was President of the MNSD section in Tillabéri, as well as a Vice-President of the MNSD National Political Bureau.
Tuareg conflict
Oumarou said on July 13, 2007 that the government would not negotiate with the Movement of Nigeriens for Justice rebel group in northern Niger.Party conflict
As the criminal prosecution of former Prime Minister Hama Amadou continued in 2008, some parliamentary leaders of MNSD-Nassara remained loyal to the former party chief.In June 2008, Amadou was arrested on charges of embezzlement. Despite conflict with some MNSD activists still loyal to Amadou, Oumarou was named interim head of the party.
In January 2009, Oumarou's government asked the National Assembly to strip three MNSD deputies of their immunity from prosecution. Shortly thereafter, Amadou supporters tabled a motion of no confidence against Oumarou.
2009 and 2011 elections
In late 2008, supporters of President Tandja staged events calling for the extension of the President's second term, due to expire in December 2009. Counter-protests by opponents—including MNSD activists loyal to Amadou—followed over the course of several weeks. Thereafter Oumarou made statements indicating that the presidential, parliamentary and local elections would go ahead as planned.In August 2009, a constitutional referendum
Nigerien constitutional referendum, 2009
A constitutional referendum was held in Niger on 4 August 2009. The purpose of the referendum was to submit to Nigerien voters the dissolution of the Fifth Republic of Niger and the creation of a "Sixth Republic of Niger" under a fully presidential system of government...
providing for a three year extension of Tandja's term was successful amidst an opposition boycott. A 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:...
was planned for October 2009, and Oumarou headed the MNSD's candidate list in Tillabéri. Because he was standing as a parliamentary candidate, he had to resign from the government, and on September 24, 2009 state media reported that he had resigned, along with two other ministers who were also running. Albade Abouba
Albadé Abouba
Albadé Abouba is a Nigerien politician who has been the Secretary-General of the National Movement for the Development of Society since 2009. He served in the government of Niger as Minister of the Interior from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2010...
, the Minister of the Interior, was appointed to replace him as Prime Minister in an acting capacity.
Following the parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the opposition, the regional organization ECOWAS—which had wanted the election delayed in hopes of resolving the political crisis—suspended Niger from its ranks. Oumarou headed 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.
Having won a seat in the National Assembly, Oumarou was elected as President of the National Assembly on November 25, 2009. The vote was unanimous, with all of the 109 deputies who were present voting in favor of his candidacy. Oumarou said on the occasion that he would work to restore the National Assembly's image in the wake of the controversies of the preceding months.
Dissatisfied by the ongoing political crisis, the military seized power
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 February 18, 2010, ousting Tandja and immediately dissolving the National Assembly. Unlike Tandja and Abouba, Oumarou was initially not detained by the new junta; however, he was arrested on 29 March 2010, along with a number of other high-ranking associates and loyalists of Tandja. According to Ousmane Cissé
Ousmane Cisse
Ousmane Cisse is a Malian professional basketball player who currently plays for APOEL in Cyprus. He is a 6'9" 235 lb forward...
, the Minister of the Interior, they were arrested because they were involved in "subversive activities and undermining of the government and the transition process". Cissé stressed that any activity aimed at undermining the government or stirring unrest would be punished. Nevertheless, the junta released Oumarou and the others on 2 April 2010. Cissé, the Interior Minister, said that their "destabilisation operation" had been "neutralised" and that the suspects were being released "to calm things down".
A few months later, Oumarou was accused of embezzlement and arrested on 29 July 2010. The Commission to Fight Financial Crime alleged that he owed the state 270 million CFA francs. The MNSD expressed outrage at the arrest of Oumarou, who was expected to be the MNSD's candidate for 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...
, and demanded his release; it said that the charge against him was a politically motivated effort to smear and marginalize the party. On 2 August 2010, Oumarou was charged and released on bail.
The MNSD announced on 10 August 2010 that Oumarou had been designated as its presidential candidate at a party congress but he was defeated by 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...
.