Niger
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, official_languages =
, languages_type = National languagesNigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
The Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress (french: Alliance nigérienne pour la démocratie et le progrès, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya) is a political party in Niger. Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye led the party from its foundation in 1992 until his ...
(ANDP-Zaman Lahiya). He was an important minister during the regime of
Seyni Kountché
Seyni Kountché (1 July 1931 – 10 November 1987) was a Nigerien military officer who led a 1974 coup d'état that deposed the government of Niger's first president, Hamani Diori. He ruled the country as military head of state from 17 April 1 ...
and subsequently served as Niger's Ambassador to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
from 1988 to 1991; later, after founding the ANDP, he served as President of the
National Assembly of Niger
The unicameral National Assembly (''Assemblée nationale'') is Niger's legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.
History
The National Assembly was established through reforms of the Col ...
from 1993 to 1994. He was the ANDP's candidate in four presidential elections, beginning in 1993; he was also a deputy in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2009 and the President of the High Court of Justice from 2005 to 2009.
Background
His family names, Moumouni Djermakoye, marked him as a descendant—but not heir—of the most powerful ruling dynasty of Djerma society, that of the
Djermakoy The Djermakoy (var. Zermakoy, Zarmakoy, Djermakoye) is the title given to rulers of the Djerma/ Zarma states in what is now southwest Niger.Dosso: the first amongst equals of Djerma rulers and a house especially favoured during the colonial period.Samuel Decalo. ''Historical Dictionary of Niger'' (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997) pp.35, 125-6, 217-219.
Djermakoye entered the military as a young officer, and took part in
Seyni Kountché
Seyni Kountché (1 July 1931 – 10 November 1987) was a Nigerien military officer who led a 1974 coup d'état that deposed the government of Niger's first president, Hamani Diori. He ruled the country as military head of state from 17 April 1 ...
's April 1974 coup which overthrew President
Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori (6 June 1916 – 23 April 1989) was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence. Although corruption was a common feature of his administration, he gained in ...
. He became a key member of the ruling council, and developed a personal power base in Dosso.
Service as a minister and diplomat during military rule (1974–1991)
Following the 1974 coup, Djermakoye served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from April 22, 1974 to September 10, 1979."GOUVERNEMENTS DU PRESIDENT SEYNI KOUNTCHE" , official Nigerien presidency website . On the latter date, he was named Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, in which position he served until he was named Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs on August 31, 1981. He remained in the latter position until January 24, 1983. In May 1988 he was named Ambassador to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and Permanent Representative to the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
. He presented his credentials as Ambassador to the United States on September 19, 1988, serving in that post until mid-1991.
MNSD leadership bid, formation of the ANDP, multiparty elections (1991–1996)
In 1991, Djermakoye was defeated by
Tandja Mamadou
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 MNSD ...
in a bid to become leader of the
National Movement for the Development of Society
The National Movement for the Development of Society (french: Mouvement National pour la Société du Développement, MNSD-Nassara) is a political party in Niger. Founded under the military government of the 1974–1990 period, it was the ruling ...
(MNSD). This struggle was marked by a question of ethnicity: Djermakoye, who was a member of the dominant ethnic group in the party (the Djerma), lost to Tandja, who was not. After his defeat, he formed a group called the Club of Moumouni Adamou Djermokoye's Friends (CAMAD), which later became the ANDP.Jibrin Ibrahim and Abdoulayi Niandou Souley "The rise to power of an opposition party: the MNSD in Niger Republic" Unisa Press, Politeia, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1996.
In February 1993, Djermakoye stood as the ANDP candidate in the first round of the 1993 presidential election and placed fourth with 15.24% of the vote.Elections in Niger African Elections Database. As part of a coalition called the Alliance of the Forces of Change, Djermakoye backed
Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane (born 20 January 1950), press release no. 179, is a Nigerien politician. He was the first democratically elected and fourth President of Niger, serving from 16 April 1993, U.S. Department of State. until he was deposed in a mili ...
of the
Democratic and Social Convention
The Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama (french: Convention démocratique et sociale-Rahama, CDS-Rahama) is a political party in Niger.
History
It was founded in January 1991. In the February 1993 parliamentary elections the party won 22 ...
(CDS) in the second round of the election against Tandja of the MNSD, and Ousmane was victorious. In the February 1993 parliamentary election, the ANDP won 11 out of 83 seats in the National Assembly, performing well among the Zarma; Djermakoye himself was elected to the National Assembly as an ANDP candidate in Dosso constituency.
On April 13, 1993, Djermakoye was elected as President of the National Assembly. The MNSD opposed the vote in which Djermakoye was elected, calling it unconstitutional and refusing to participate in it.''Africa South of the Sahara 2004'' (2003), Routledge, page 793. Following an appeal by the opposition, the Supreme Court annulled Djermakoye's election as President of the National Assembly on April 23, but the National Assembly elected Djermakoye again in May 1993. He remained President of the National Assembly until October 1994, when the National Assembly was dissolved ahead of a new parliamentary election.
Under the Maïnassara regime and transitional military rule (1996–1999)
After the military, led by
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 ...
, seized power in January 1996, a new presidential election was held in July 1996, in which Djermakoye took fifth place with 4.77% of the vote. On the second day of the election, which was won by Maïnassara, Djermakoye was placed under house arrest along with the three other opposition candidates, and he remained under house arrest for two weeks."Niger: A major step backwards" , Amnesty International, 16 October 1996. After Maïnassara's victory, Djermakoye and the ANDP recognized it and supported him, IRIN-West Africa Update 196", April 28, 1998. but on April 28, 1998 he announced that the ANDP was breaking with Maïnassara's Rally for Democracy and Progress, alleging that Maïnassara had "humiliated and marginalised" the ANDP.
Following another coup in April 1999, Djermakoye was made President of the National Consultative Council during the transitional period prior to new elections. In August 1999, he was chosen by the ANDP to run again as its candidate in the October 1999 presidential election. In the election, Djermakoye received fifth place with 7.73% of the vote. On November 4, he announced his support for
Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1 January 1952) is a Nigerien politician who served as the President of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Issoufou was the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, president of the National Assembly from 1995 t ...
, the candidate of the
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (french: Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme, PNDS-Tarayya) is a political party in Niger. It is a broadly left-leaning party, part of the Socialist International, and since 2011 it h ...
, in the second round of voting. Issoufou lost the second round to Tandja. Djermakoye was elected to the National Assembly in the November 1999 parliamentary election from Dosso constituency; he was one of four ANDP candidates to win seats in the election.
Activities during the Fifth Republic (1999–2009)
In July 2002, the ANDP joined the MNSD-led Alliance of Democratic Forces, the ruling coalition, withdrawing from the opposition Coordination of Democratic Forces to which it had previously belonged. On November 8, 2002, Djermakoye was named Minister of State for African Integration and
New Partnership for Africa's Development
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is an economic development program of the African Union. NEPAD was adopted at the 37th session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia. NEPAD aims to p ...
Programs; he served in this position until resigning from the government in November 2004 due to his participation in the elections that were about to be held. On September 19, 2004, he was again chosen as the ANDP presidential candidate; he said on this occasion that he did not intend to run again in the 2009 presidential election. In the November 2004 presidential election, he again took fifth place with 6.07% of the vote. Shortly before the first round of the election, Djermakoye said that he would support Tandja in the second round. In the December 2004 parliamentary election, Djermakoye was re-elected to the National Assembly from Dosso constituency.
On May 24, 2005, Djermakoye was elected as President of the High Court of Justice, a special judicial body composed of National Assembly deputies. Djermakoye was defeated by Mahamane Ousmane in an election for the position of Speaker of the
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS; also known as in French and Portuguese) is a regional political union, political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an ...
(ECOWAS) Parliament on November 14, 2006, taking 37 votes against 58 for Ousmane.
Reacting to President Tandja's controversial efforts to call a referendum on a new constitution that would allow him to run for re-election—efforts that were opposed by both opposition parties and members of the presidential majority coalition—Djermakoye expressed disapproval, saying that the nation could be "split in two" by Tandja's referendum plans. After the Constitutional Court ruled against Tandja on 25 May 2009, Tandja promptly dissolved the National Assembly on 26 May. Observers noted that in doing so he averted the possibility of being placed on trial for treason at the High Court of Justice, with Djermakoye presiding.Boureima Hama "Niger president dissolves parliament" AFP, 26 May 2009.
Djermakoye was taken ill, reportedly from the heat, at a 14 June 2009 rally in Niamey, protesting President Tandja's referendum proposal;"Décès de Moumouni Djermakoye" RFI, 14 June 2009 . he collapsed shortly before he was expected to address the protesters."Moumouni Djermakoye inhumé à Dosso" RFI, 15 June 2009 . Djermakoye, who was reported to have previously suffered from a heart condition, died at a Niamey hospital thirty minutes later. An official ceremony and military tribute for Djermakoye was held in Niamey on 15 June, with President Tandja in attendance. His funeral was also held in Dosso on the same day, amidst a large crowd of mourners.