Daouda Malam Wanké (May 6, 1946 – September 15, 2004) was a military and political leader in

Niger Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state Geography of Niger#Political geography, bordered by Libya to the Libya–Niger border, north-east, Chad to the Chad–Niger border, east ...

. He was a member of the Hausa ethnic group. Wanké's year of birth is disputed. Many sources claim it is 1954 while others suggest 1946. He hold many other offices.

Biography

He was born in Yellou, a town near Niger's capital,

Niamey Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. As the Niamey Urban Community (, CUN), it is a Regions of Niger, first-level division of Niger, surrounded by the Tillabéri Region, in the western part of the country. Niamey lies on the Nige ...

. He entered the Niger military, rising to the rank of Major. On April 9, 1999, Wanké led a military coup in which President Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara, who himself had come to power in a military coup, was assassinated. For two days there was much political uncertainty in Niger, as the prime minister, Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki and several others also had claims on the presidency. On April 11, 1999, Wanké became president, heading a transitional government that promised to hold elections later that year.Niger: A copybook coup d'etat
April 9, 1999, BBC.
Military controls Niger
April 10, 1999, BBC. Wanké's government fulfilled its promise, and turned over power to the newly elected president,

Mamadou Tandja Mamadou Tandja (1938 – 24 November 2020) was a Nigerien politician who was List of heads of state of Niger, President of Niger from 1999 to 2010. He was President of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) from 1991 to 1999 ...

, in December 1999. Wanké subsequently suffered from various health problems, including cardiovascular troubles and high blood pressure. During the last months of his life, he traveled to

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

and

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

for medical treatment. He died in Niamey. He is survived by a wife and three children.

References

Presidents of Niger Nigerien military personnel Leaders who took power by coup 2004 deaths People from Niamey Hausa people 1946 births Age controversies {{Africa-mil-bio-stub