Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Niger)

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"[1] 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.[2][3] Notable members include founder and past party president Rhissa Ag Boula (executive, 1990-2005, president 2005-2008, Minister of Tourism 1997-1999, 1999-2004),[4] 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).[5][6] [7]

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. [8]

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.[9]


References

  1. ↑ Ibrahim(1999), p. 201.
  2. ↑ Jibrin Ibrahim. Political Exclusion, Democratization and Dynamics of Ethnicity in Niger. Africa Today, Vol. 41, No. 3, Electoral Successes: Harbingers of Hope? (3rd Qtr., 1994), pp. 15-39.
  3. ↑ Electoral assistance program in Niger : legislative elections, January 12, 1995 -- debriefing and analysis. National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), USAID. Mission to Niger.
  4. ↑ Rhissa Ag Boula. African Development info database.
  5. ↑ Jean-Jacques Raynal. Les institutions politiques du Niger. Sépia, (1993) ISBN 2-907888-27-7 p. 319
  6. ↑ Ousseina Alidou. Engaging modernity: Muslim women and the politics of agency in postcolonial Niger. Univ of Wisconsin Press, (2005) ISBN 0-299-21210-6 p. 183
  7. ↑ Proper name of ministry at the time was "Ministre de l’Industrie, de l’Artisanat et des Petites et Moyennes entreprises", Presidency of Niger: Governments of PRESIDENT MAHAMANE OUSMANE.
  8. ↑ International Parliamentary Union database for the National Assembly of Niger. Accessed 2009-05-29.
  9. ↑ Ibrahim (1999)