On Wednesday evening, a major Nigerian political figure, Hama Amadou, died of a devastating attack of malaria while he was being transported to the Niamey general referral hospital. Aged 74, the native of Yuri will have experienced all the functions of a great state official, except that of the supreme magistracy to which he aspired, in vain, until the end of his life.
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Hama Amadou was the Nigerien political animal par excellence. Nicknamed “ the phoenix », the former Prime Minister Nigerienwho died Wednesday evening at the age of 74, experienced prison several times during his rich political career, becoming one of the fiercest opponents of the regime of the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum.
A brilliant economist and fine political strategist, he began his career as a customs controller and quickly rose through the ranks in the Nigerien state apparatus: chief of staff to Seyni Kountché in 1985, then to Ali Saibou in 1987.
He was Prime Minister under the presidency of Mahamame Ousmane from 1995 to 1996, and it was his party, the MNSD, which brought Mamadou Tanja to power in 1999. Tanja’s Prime Minister again in 2000, Hama Amadou remained in power for seven years. head of his government.
President of the National Assembly in 2011
In 2009, he was incarcerated in a high security prison for alleged embezzlement. He denounces a “ machination » of the then president, Mamadou Tandja, to oust him from the presidential election the same year. Justice will ultimately dismiss the case in his favor and the election will not be held, Tandja having been overthrown by a coup in the meantime.
Losing control within the MNSD and creating his own party, the Nigerien Democratic Movement (Moden FA), Hama Amadou opposed Tanja before being designated president of the National Assembly in 2011, after the fall of the latter, until 2014.
In 2011 and 2016, he is one of the main rivals of Mahamadou Issoufou for the presidential election, before having to flee the country following a baby trafficking affair in which one of his wives was involved. While he was incarcerated in 2015 for this affair, he still came second in the 2016 presidential election with nearly 18% of the votes, without having been able to campaign.
2020 presidential candidacy rejected
Returning to Niger in 2019 and after being once again incarcerated then released in 2020, Hama Amadou saw his candidacy for the December 2020 presidential election – the last – rejected by the Constitutional Court, leaving the way clear for Mohamed Bazoum.
Accused of being one of those responsible for the unrest having followed the proclamation of Mohamed Bazoum’s victory in February 2021, he was imprisoned again but was released two months later for health reasons and flew to France. He returns to Niamey after the coup d’état of July 2023 which overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, but remained discreet on the political scene until his death in the Nigerien capital on Wednesday.
“ Hama Amadou marked the history of our country »
“ I mourn the loss of one of my greatest allies, I mourn the loss of one of my greatest adversaries », wrote this Thursday the former head of state Mahamadou Issoufouunder whose presidency Hama Amadou experienced a number of legal setbacks.
“ Hama Amadou marked the history of our country through his commitment and dedication to the service of the nation. His political legacy and humanism will continue to inspire future generations “, for his part reacted Soufiane Aghaichata Guishene, Minister of Tourism of the military regime in power since July 2023.
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