Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Niger)
Encyclopedia
The Union for Democracy and Social Progress-Amana (Commonly UDPS-Amana, fr:
l'Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social) is a political party in the West African state of Niger
. Its slogan, "Amana", is a Hausa language
word for "Trust" Founded in 1990, the party has its largest base in the Tuareg people of the north of the nation. Centrist in ideology, its history is tied up with that of the Tuareg rights movements which surrounded the Tuareg insurgency on 1990-1995, and the more recent 2007-2008 insurgency
. Notable members include founder and past party president Rhissa Ag Boula
(executive, 1990-2005, president 2005-2008, Minister of Tourism 1997-1999, 1999-2004), Akoli Daouel (president 1996-2005), Mohamed Abdoullahi (president 1992-1996, joined MNSD-Nassara in 2004), and Ben Wahab Aïchatou Djido (leader of Delegate to the National Assembly of Niger
and the first woman to lead a parliamentary delegation, as Minister of Traditional Commerce and Arts under Prime Minister Mahamadou Issoufou
from April 1993 to October 1994).
The party took one seat in the 1993 Parliamentary elections
, two in the 1995 Parliamentary elections
, and three in the 1996 Parliamentary elections
. It won no seats in the 1999
or 2004 elections
.
The party has had members in the Nigerien Council of Ministers, supported several ruling coalitions, while the involvement of Rhissa Ag Boula
in the Tuareg insurgencies and peace movements has seen him twice made Minister of Tourism. Between 1993-1995 the UDPS was a member of the ruling Alliance of the Forces of Change
, from 1995-1996, supported the MNSD-Nassara led government of Hama Amadou
, from 1996-1997 supported the ruling party of General Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
l'Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social) is a political party in the West African state of Niger
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...
. Its slogan, "Amana", is a Hausa language
Hausa language
Hausa is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 25 million people, and as a second language by about 18 million more, an approximate total of 43 million people...
word for "Trust" Founded in 1990, the party has its largest base in the Tuareg people of the north of the nation. Centrist in ideology, its history is tied up with that of the Tuareg rights movements which surrounded the Tuareg insurgency on 1990-1995, and the more recent 2007-2008 insurgency
Tuareg Rebellion (2007–present)
The Tuareg Rebellion of 2007-2009 was an insurgency that began in February 2007 amongst elements of the Tuareg people living in the Sahara desert regions of northern Mali and Niger. It is only the most recent of a series of insurgencies by formerly nomadic Tuareg populations, which had last...
. Notable members include founder and past party president Rhissa Ag Boula
Rhissa Ag Boula
Rhissa Ag Boula is a Nigerien Tuareg politician and former leader of rebel factions in both the 1990–1995 and the 2007–2009 Tuareg based Insurgencies. He was Nigerien Minister of Tourism from 1996-1999, and again from 1999-2004. His arrest on murder charges in 2004 precipitated armed conflict...
(executive, 1990-2005, president 2005-2008, Minister of Tourism 1997-1999, 1999-2004), Akoli Daouel (president 1996-2005), Mohamed Abdoullahi (president 1992-1996, joined MNSD-Nassara in 2004), and Ben Wahab Aïchatou Djido (leader of Delegate to 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:...
and the first woman to lead a parliamentary delegation, as Minister of Traditional Commerce and Arts under Prime Minister 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...
from April 1993 to October 1994).
The party took one seat in the 1993 Parliamentary elections
Nigerien parliamentary election, 1993
Parliamentary elections were held in Niger on 14 February 1993. They followed the constitutional changes approved in a referendum the previous year, which re-introduced multi-party democracy...
, two in the 1995 Parliamentary elections
Nigerien parliamentary election, 1995
A parliamentary election was held in Niger on 12 January 1995. The last election of the Third Republic of Niger, they were called following a split in the ruling coalition, but resulted in a government divided between the party of the President and an opposition coalition holding the National...
, and three in the 1996 Parliamentary elections
Nigerien parliamentary election, 1996
Parliamentary elections were held in Niger on 23 November 1996. They followed the constitutional changes approved in a referendum earlier in the year, which re-introduced multi-party democracy following a military coup...
. It won no seats in the 1999
Nigerien parliamentary election, 1999
Parliamentary elections were held in Niger on 24 November 1999, co-inciding with the second round of the presidential elections. The vote for the first parliament of the Fifth Republic, which had originally been scheduled for October, but delayed in August, saw a victory for the National Movement...
or 2004 elections
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...
.
The party has had members in the Nigerien Council of Ministers, supported several ruling coalitions, while the involvement of Rhissa Ag Boula
Rhissa Ag Boula
Rhissa Ag Boula is a Nigerien Tuareg politician and former leader of rebel factions in both the 1990–1995 and the 2007–2009 Tuareg based Insurgencies. He was Nigerien Minister of Tourism from 1996-1999, and again from 1999-2004. His arrest on murder charges in 2004 precipitated armed conflict...
in the Tuareg insurgencies and peace movements has seen him twice made Minister of Tourism. Between 1993-1995 the UDPS was a member of the ruling Alliance of the Forces of Change
Alliance of the Forces of Change (Niger)
The Alliance of the Forces of Change was one of the two large political coalitions which contested for power in Niger from 1991 to 1996.-Formation:...
, from 1995-1996, supported the MNSD-Nassara led government of 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...
, from 1996-1997 supported the ruling party of General 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....
.