Seyni Oumarou

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Seyni Oumarou

Incumbent
Assumed office 
07 June 2007
President Tandja Mamadou
Preceded by Hama Amadou

Born 9 August 1950 (1950-08-09) (age 57)
Tillabéri, Niger
Political party MNSD

Seyni Oumarou (born August 9, 1950[1]) is a Nigerien politician who has been Prime Minister of Niger since June 2007. He is from the west of the country and is a member of the Djerma ethnic group,[2] as well as a member of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD).[3]

Oumarou was born in Tillabéri. He was director-general of the Nigerien Paper Transformation Enterprise (ENITRAP) from 1987 to 1998, and in 1995 he became special advisor to Prime Minister Hama Amadou.[1] Oumarou was named 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.[4][5][6] 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.[7] In this position he was the third ranking member of the government (after Amadou and Minister of State Abdou Labo).[6]

He held this position when Amadou and his government lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on May 31, 2007. President Tandja Mamadou chose Oumarou as prime minister on June 3; he had been proposed for the position by the MNSD and was one of three candidates for the position put forward by the National Assembly.[2] Oumarou's appointment was opposed by the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, as well as a number of civil society organizations, because he is 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.[8][9] Oumarou was sworn in as Prime Minister on June 7,[10] and his new government was named on June 9,[11] with 32 members (including Oumarou).[12]

Oumarou is President of the MNSD section in Tillabéri and a Vice-President of the party's National Political Bureau.[1]

Oumarou said on July 13, 2007 that the government would not negotiate with the Movement of Nigeriens for Justice rebel group in northern Niger.[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Niger Politique: Biographie du nouveau Chef du gouvernement", Sahel Quotidien (tamtaminfo.com), June 4, 2007 (French).
  2. ^ a b "Niger: proche de son prédécesseur, Seyni Oumarou nommé Premier ministre", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), June 3, 2007 (French).
  3. ^ Abdoulaye Massalatchi, "Niger president appoints a new PM", Reuters (IOL), June 4, 2007.
  4. ^ "Le gouvernement du Niger, formé le 16 avril 1999", Afrique-express.com (French).
  5. ^ "Le gouvernement du Niger formé le 5 janvier 2000", Afrique-express.com (French).
  6. ^ a b "Gouvernement du 1er mars 2007 : Iniquité et part du lion du MNSD", Roue de l'Histoire, n° 342, 7 March 2007 (Tamtaminfo.com) (French).
  7. ^ "GOUVERNEMENTS DE LA TRANSITION DE TANDJA MAMADOU", official Nigerien presidency web site (French).
  8. ^ "Niger impasse continues", AFP (IOL), June 5, 2007.
  9. ^ "Niger civil society rejects the appointment of Oumarou as new PM", African Press Agency, June 6, 2007.
  10. ^ "Niger: le nouveau Premier ministre Seyni Oumarou a prêté serment", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), June 7, 2007 (French).
  11. ^ "Formation du nouveau gouvernement nigérien", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), June 9, 2007.
  12. ^ "Niger : President Mamadou Tandja approves new govt.", African Press Agency, June 9, 2007.
  13. ^ "Niger Prime Minister rules out negotiations with MNJ rebels", African Press Agency, July 14, 2007.

[edit] See also