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

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesHausa Hausa may refer to: * Hausa people, an ethnic group of West Africa * Hausa language, spoken in West Africa * Hausa Kingdoms, a historical collection of Hausa city-states * Hausa (horse) or Dongola horse, an African breed of riding horse See also ...

ethnic group. Wanké's year of birth is disputed. Many sources claim it is 1954 while others 1946.

Biography

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

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 dis ...

. 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 General Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara (May 9, 1949 – April 9, 1999) was a military officer and diplomat in Niger who ruled the country from his seizure of power in 1996 until his assassination during the military coup of April 1999. Baré Maïn ...

, 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 Ibrahim Assane Mayaki (born September 24, 1951) is a Nigerien politician, who served as the Prime Minister of Niger from November 27, 1997, to January 3, 2000. Fourth Republic Under President Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara, who seized power in a Janu ...

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 President of Niger from 1999 to 2010. He was President of the National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) from 1991 to 1999 and unsuccessfully ran as the MNS ...

, 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 (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Suda ...

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...

and 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