The Nigerien Action Bloc (french: Bloc nigérien d'action, BNA) was a
political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...
in
Niger
)
, official_languages =
, languages_type = National languagesIssoufou Saidou Djermakoye, a traditional chief and former chairman of the Nigerien Progressive Party (PPN).
History
The party emerged from a split in the
Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathisers
The Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathisers (french: Union nigérienne des indépendants et sympathisants, UNIS) was a political party in Niger.
History
UNIS was established in May 1948 by a mix of former members of the Nigerien Progres ...
(UNIS) in 1955 following an attempt by some UNIS leaders to affiliate the party with the Indépendants d'Outre Mer group in the French parliament. As a result, the majority of the party's members left to form the BNA.Abdourahmane Idrissa & Samuel Decalo (2012) ''Historical Dictionary of Niger'', Scarecrow Press, p368Idrissa & Decalo, p369 The new party affiliated with the
Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
The Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance (french: Union démocratique et socialiste de la Résistance or UDSR) was a French political party founded after the liberation of France from German occupation and mainly active during the Fo ...
(UDSR) in
Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
. The symbol of the party was a horse, and its official colour was yellow.
A joint list of BNA and the
Nigerien Progressive Union
The Nigerien Progressive Union (french: Union progressiste nigérienne, UPN) was a political party in Niger led by Georges Condat.
History
The party was founded on March 15, 1953, as a breakaway from the Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympath ...
(UPN) of
Georges Condat Georges may refer to:
Places
* Georges River, New South Wales, Australia
* Georges Quay (Dublin)
*Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Other uses
*Georges (name)
* ''Georges'' (novel), a novel by Alexandre Dumas
* "Georges" (song), a 19 ...
received around 126,000 votes in the January 1956 French parliamentary elections. The list was the most voted-for, finishing in first place in seven provinces, and UPN leader Condat won one of the two seats in the French National Assembly. The UPN later merged into BNA. Following the merger Issoufou Saïdou served as the chairman of BNA, Condat and Sido Yacouba as vice chairmen, Tiémoko Coulibaly as general secretary and
Adamou Mayaki Adamou Assane Mayaki (June 1919 – summer 2003) was a Nigerien politician and diplomat. Mayaki was the Foreign Minister of Niger from 1963–1965, and a leading member of the ruling PPN-RDA party.
Mayaki was born in Filingué in June 1919. His f ...
as joint secretary.
BNA won four seats in the
Niamey
Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2012 census. As of 2017, population projections show the capital di ...
Djibo Bakary
Djibo Bakary (1922 – 16 April 1998) was a socialist politician and important figure in the independence movement of Niger. Bakary was the first Nigerien to hold local executive power since the beginning of French colonialism. From 20 May 195 ...
. With the support of the four BNA councillors, the UDN was able to claim the mayoralty. In
Zinder
Zinder (locally, ''Damagaram''), formerly also spelled Sinder, is the third largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 (2001 census);
the party finished in second place with nine seats. With the support of the UDN, BNA won the mayoral post in
Zinder
Zinder (locally, ''Damagaram''), formerly also spelled Sinder, is the third largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 (2001 census);
.
The following day, on November 19, 1956, the BNA merged with the UDN, forming what would soon become the Nigerien branch of the
African Socialist Movement
African Socialist Movement (french: Mouvement Socialiste Africain, MSA) was a political party in French West Africa. The MSA was formed following a meeting of the Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière (SFIO) federations of Cameroon, Ch ...
(MSA). However, the former (politically moderate) BNA and (politically radical) UDN members would constitute antagonistic factions in the MSA. In 1957 a group of former BNA members revolted against the MSA leadership. Likewise several former BNA leaders supported the 'Yes' vote in the
1958 French constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 28 September 1958.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p674 Voters were asked whether they approved of the adoption of a constitution for the French Fift ...