Brigi Rafini (born 7 April 1953) is a Nigerien politician who served as the Prime Minister of Niger from 2011 to 2021. A native of

Iférouane Iferouane (french: link=no, Iférouane), also spelled Iferouan, is an oasis town and commune in northern Niger, in Agadez Department. It is located northeast of Arlit in the northern Aïr, in the Ighazar valley near the Tamgak Range. Iferou ...

in Agadez Region and an ethnic Tuareg,Le Premier ministre, M Brigi Rafini : un homme d'une grande expérience politique à la tête du gouvernement
. Oumarou Moussa, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2011-04-11. Rafini was Minister of Agriculture in the late 1980s and Fourth Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed as Prime Minister after Mahamadou Issoufou took office as President on 7 April 2011. He is also notably the first Tuareg in office.Niger's new leader names Brigi Rafini prime minister, Reuters
2011-04-11.AFP: Niger's new president appoints Tuareg as prime minister
2011-04-11.Niger rebels release 6 more government soldiers
- AP 2007-08-05Niger : libération d’une partie de militaires pris en otage par le MNJ
Le Potentiale (Kinshahsa), 2007-08-07M. Brigi Rafini, 4ème vice-président de l'Assemblée nationale et maire de la Commune rurale d'Iférouane
. Assane Soumana, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2009-04-03.

Political affiliation

Brigi Rafini, as a civil administrator, minister, and office holder, has represented four different political parties since the 1980s. He was a member of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) during the time it was the unitary party (1989–1991), left to join the breakaway faction that became the Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP) during the democratic Third Republic (1993–1996), and helped form the ruling Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP-Jama'a) party during the presidency of Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara (1996–1999). He served as a parliamentarian and assembly officer under the RDP in opposition during the Fifth Republic (1999–2009). He has since been reported to have formally joined the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), elected to power in 2011.Les 4 premiers décrets de la 7ème République : Mahamadou Issoufou signe 3 décrets de nomination et 1 de convocation de l'Assemblée nationale
. Mahamadou Diallo, Niger Diaspora. 2011-04-08.

Prime Minister

When Mahamadou Issoufou, who won the January–March 2011 presidential election, took office as President on 7 April 2011, he promptly appointed Rafini as Prime Minister. The 23-member government headed by Rafini was appointed on 21 April 2011. On 2 April 2016, when Issoufou was sworn in for his second term, he reappointed Brigi Rafini as Prime Minister."Niger ministers resign after presidential inauguration: radio"
Reuters, 2 April 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafini, Brigi 1953 births Living people Members of the National Assembly (Niger) Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism politicians Prime Ministers of Niger Berber Nigeriens People from Agadez Region Tuareg people