Mahamadou Issoufou

**Mahamadou Issoufou** (born 1 January 1952) be a Nigerien politician wey serve as de presido of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Na Issoufou be de prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, presido of de National Assembly from 1995 to 1996, den a candidate insyd each presidential election from 1993 to 2016. Na he lead de Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya), a social democratic party, from ein foundation insyd 1990 til ein election as presido insyd 2011. During de presidency of Mamadou Tandja (1999&ndash;2010), na Issoufou be de main opposition leader.

Having lef power by respecting de constitution wey limit am to two presidential terms, thus dey lead to de first ever democratic transition of power insyd de country, insyd March 2021 he receive de Ibrahim Prize for good governance, democratic election den respect of term limits.

## Background

Issoufou, an ethnic Hausa, na dem born am on 1 January 1952, insyd de town of Dandaji insyd Tahoua Department. An engineer by trade (Ingénieur Civil des Mines de St Etienne), na he serve as National Director of Mines from 1980 to 1985 before he cam turn Secretary-General of de Mining Company of Niger (SOMAIR). He be married to Aïssata Issoufou Mahamadou, a chemist, den to second wifey, Dr. Lalla Malika Issoufou, a physician.

## 1993 presidential election den appointment as prime minister

Insyd February 1993, na dem hold de country ein first multiparty legislative den presidential elections. Insyd de parliamentary election, na Issoufou ein party, de PNDS, win 13 seats insyd de National Assembly, wey na Issoufou einself win a seat as a PNDS candidate insyd Tahoua constituency.

Together plus oda opposition parties, na de PNDS then join a coalition, de Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC). Na dis coalition hold de majority of de newly elected seats insyd de National Assembly. Later insyd February 1993, Issoufou run as de PNDS candidate insyd de presidential election. Na he place third, dey win 15.92 percent of de vote. De AFC then support second-place finisher Mahamane Ousmane for president insyd de second round of de election, dem hold on 27 March. Na Ousmane win de election, wey he defeat Tandja Mamadou, de candidate of de National Movement of the Development Society (MNSD); plus de AFC holding a parliamentary majority, Issoufou cam be Prime Minister on 17 April 1993.

## Post-presidency
Dey follow Bazoum ein removal den detention during de 2023 Nigerien coup d'état insyd July, na Issoufou be reportedly involved insyd negotiations for ein release. Na he later reiterate ein call for Bazoum ein release den restoration to office during de subsequent 2023 Nigerien crisis insyd August. Na ein son, Bazoum ein oil minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou dey among chaw officials dem arrest by de military junta dem form after de coup.
## Oda activities
* International Crisis Group (ICG), Board of Trustees (since 2023)
## Honours
*Niger:
** Grand Cross of the National Order of Niger
** Grand Cross of the Merit Order of Niger.
** Grand Cross of the Order of Legion d'Honor of France.
** Grand Cross of the Republic Order of Tunisia.
## References

## External links

* Appearances on C-SPAN