Oumar Mariko

**Oumar Mariko** (wey dem born 4 February 1959) be Malian politician, doctor den one well-known former student activist. He be Secretary-General for African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI), one left-wing political party, den he run for President of Mali three times—2002, 2007 den 2013.

## Biography
Dem born Oumar Mariko insyd Bafoulabé, den ein political engagement start from ein student time. Between 1976 to 1977, he work insyd de National Union of Students and Pupils of Mali (UNEEM) for Dioila lycée, den from 1978 to 1979 for Badalabougou lycée. From 1979 to 1980, he be member for de union ein organisation bureau. He be founding member for Mali Students and Pupils' Association, den from 1990 to 1992, he serve as ein general secretary. Mariko lead demonstrations wey finally topple Moussa Traoré ein government for 1991, plus he join de Transitional Committee for de Salvation of de People (CTSP) represent de Student Association.

Oumar Mariko be medical doctor den founding director for de Mah Doumbia surgical clinic insyd Bamako. Since 1995, he be director general for de private radio network Kayira, den he be external relations secretary for URTEL, de trade union wey represent radio den television broadcasting insyd Mali.

## Political career
Together plus Cheick Oumar Sissoko, Mariko form one political party for 1996, African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI), wey stand against President Alpha Oumar Konaré ein government. He be de Secretary-General for SADI, wey clearly dey left-wing.

Insyd March 2002, SADI ein first ordinary congress nominate Mariko as de party ein candidate for de April 2002 presidential election. For dat election, he come 12th place wey he get 0.88% of de vote. Then for July 2002 parliamentary election, Mariko stand as candidate for Kolondiéba constituency.

Wen de SADI national conference end for 24 February 2007, dem choose Mariko as de party ein candidate for de April 2007 presidential election. For ein campaign, he take stand against de current economic, social, education plus healthcare policies, den he talk say he want make Mali turn "democratic plus popular state". He talk say he no dey support de privatisation of Compagnie malienne pour le développement du textile (CMDT), Huilerie cotonnière du Malo (Huicoma), den he ask make dem re-nationalise de railways. He too criticize President Amadou Toumani Touré say he dey do favouritism for social housing matter. All through de campaign, Mariko talk say "elections no go be transparent, or sincere, or even credible", den he accuse de Citizen's Movement wey dey back Touré say dem dey try fraud. For de end, he come fourth place wey he get 2.72% of de vote. Insyd 29 May ein press conference, Mariko lash de electoral commission den de Constitutional Court how dem handle de election, den he talk say make dem dissolve de commission. He too criticize de main opposition coalition, Front for Democracy and de Republic, wey he no join inside.

He win seat for de National Assembly of Mali for de July 2007 parliamentary election under SADI list for Kolondiéba; de other candidate wey follow am for de list be Moussa Coumbéré. For de first round, de SADI list come second place, get 21.28% of de vote, behind de National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID) list wey get 25.29%. But for de second round, de SADI list win plus 61.76% of de district ein vote.

Mariko be critic of economic globalization den de Bretton Wood Accords.

From 2007 go 2008, Mariko dey serve as President for de Commission of Foreign Affairs, Malians Living Abroad, plus African Integration inside de National Assembly.

### 2012 military coup d'etat
Afta de coup d'état wey suspend Mali ein democratic institutions for de night of 21–22 March 2012, Oumar Mariko plus ein SADI political party form MP22, wey be de *Mouvement populaire du 22 mars* (22 March People's Movement) to support de coup plotters.

Insyd de July–August 2013 parliamentary election, Mariko win ein seat back to de National Assembly. Later, he contest for de position of President of de National Assembly, but for de vote wey dem hold on 22 January 2014, de governing party ein candidate, Issaka Sidibé, win am easy, get 115 votes while Mariko get 11.

## References


## External links
* (in French) Official web site
* (in French) Interview with Oumar Mariko