Mamadou Tandja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mamadou Tandja
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Tandja in 2007
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| 7th President of Niger | |
| In office 22 December 1999 – 18 February 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki Hama Amadou Seyni Oumarou Albadé Abouba (Acting) Ali Badjo Gamatié |
| Preceded by | Daouda Malam Wanké (Chairman of the National Reconciliation Council) |
| Succeeded by | Salou Djibo (Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1938 Maïné-Soroa, French West Africa (now Niger) |
| Died | (aged 82) Niamey, Niger |
| Political party | National Movement for the Development of Society |
| Spouse | Laraba Tandja |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Niger |
| Branch/service | Niger Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Mamadou Tandja (born 1938 – died 24 November 2020) was a leader from Niger. He served as the President of Niger from 1999 to 2010. Before becoming president, he led the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) political party from 1991 to 1999. He tried to become president in 1993 and 1996 but was not successful until 1999.
While he was President of Niger, he also led the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2005 to 2007. This group helps West African countries work together.
Mamadou Tandja came from both Fula and Soninke families. He was the first President of Niger who was not from the Hausa or Djerma ethnic groups.
In 2009, there was a big political problem in Niger. Tandja wanted to stay in power longer than the rules allowed. Because of this, the military removed him from office in a coup d'état on February 18, 2010.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Mamadou Tandja was born in 1938 in Maïné-Soroa, a town in what is now southeastern Niger. At that time, it was part of French West Africa.
He joined the Nigerien army and rose through the ranks. In 1974, he was part of a military takeover that brought Seyni Kountché to power. Tandja became a member of the Supreme Military Council, a group of military leaders.
He held several important government jobs. He was the governor of the Maradi region in 1976. Later, he became the Minister of the Interior, a role he held twice (1979-1981 and 1990-1991). He also served as the governor of Tahoua and as Niger's Ambassador to Nigeria.
In 1991, Tandja became the leader of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) party. This was a big change because it meant the party was no longer mainly led by people from the Zarma ethnic group.
Presidential Elections and Early Political Challenges
1993 Presidential Election
Mamadou Tandja first ran for president in 1993. In the first round of voting, he received the most votes (34.22%). However, he lost in the second round to Mahamane Ousmane, getting 45.58% of the votes. Tandja accepted the results and congratulated Ousmane.
Later, in April 1994, Tandja was arrested during a protest against the government. He was released after some time.
1996 Presidential Election
In 1996, another presidential election was held after a military takeover led by Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara. Tandja ran again but came in third place with 15.65% of the votes. Maïnassara won this election.
After the election, Tandja and other opposition candidates were held under house arrest for two weeks. He was also arrested again in January 1997 after a protest.
Becoming President in 1999
In April 1999, President Maïnassara was killed, and a new military government took over. This new government promised to return the country to democracy quickly. Elections were held in October and November of that year.
Tandja won the presidential election. He got 32% of the votes in the first round and nearly 60% in the second round, defeating Mahamadou Issoufou. He had the support of Mahamane Ousmane in the second round.
His party, the MNSD, also won the most seats in the parliament. Mamadou Tandja officially became President on December 22, 1999. He then appointed Hama Amadou as his Prime Minister.
First Term as President
When Tandja became president, Niger was facing many challenges. The country was heavily in debt and had stopped receiving help from other countries after the 1996 military takeover.
Tandja focused on improving Niger's economy. He worked with government workers' unions and with countries that provided aid. However, some people did not like his plans to reduce government spending.
In 2001, students at the University of Niamey protested violently because their government grants were reduced. In 2002, some soldiers started a small rebellion over pay and living conditions. This rebellion was stopped, but Tandja faced criticism for blocking news about it.
Re-election in 2004 and Second Term
2004 Presidential Election
Mamadou Tandja ran for re-election in the 2004 presidential election. In the first round, he received 40.7% of the votes. He then faced Mahamadou Issoufou in a second round, just like in 1999.
Tandja was re-elected with 65.53% of the votes. All the other candidates who lost in the first round supported him in the second round. He was sworn in for his second term on December 21, 2004, at a ceremony attended by leaders from other African countries.
Challenges in Second Term
At first, Tandja said he would step down at the end of his second term in 2009. However, in late 2008, a movement began to extend his time in office. Supporters wanted him to stay for three more years, until 2012. They argued this would help Niger's development. Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou supported this idea.
The opposition strongly disagreed with this plan. Many protests were held against extending his term. Several groups and unions formed a group called FUSAD to oppose the extension. They asked Tandja to speak out against it, but he remained silent for a while.
During his second term, Niger's relationship with the French nuclear company Areva changed. Areva had been the main company mining uranium in Niger for decades. Tandja worked to reduce French influence by making a deal with a Chinese company, Sino-U, to develop a new uranium mine. This created competition for Areva.
2009 Political Crisis
In 2009, as the next elections approached, a group called "Tazartché" (meaning "Continuity" in Hausa) pushed for President Tandja to have a third term. Niger's 1999 constitution limited the president to two terms and said this rule could not be changed.
In March 2009, Tandja stated he would not seek a third term. But in May, he changed his mind. He said the people wanted him to stay and he could not ignore their call. His team then suggested holding a public vote (referendum) to create a brand new constitution. This new constitution would not have term limits for the president.
The Constitutional Court of Niger, a group of judges, ruled that such a referendum would be against the current constitution. They also said it would go against the oath Tandja had taken. Two major political parties also opposed the idea.
On May 26, 2009, Tandja announced he was dissolving the National Assembly (Niger's parliament). The constitution allowed him to do this once every two years, but he had to call new parliamentary elections within three months.
The Constitutional Court again ruled that the referendum could not happen. Tandja first said he would not go ahead with it. But then, he demanded the court change its ruling. This led to a general strike by labor unions and one of his main supporting parties leaving his government.
On June 27, Tandja announced he was suspending the government and would rule by himself, using special orders. The main opposition leader, Mahamadou Issoufou, called this a "coup" and urged Nigeriens to resist peacefully.
2010 Military Takeover and Release
On February 18, 2010, while Mamadou Tandja was in a government meeting, soldiers attacked the presidential palace. They removed him from power in a military takeover. A group called the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) took control. Tandja was held by the military.
The new military leaders kept Tandja in detention while they planned for a new government. He was first held under house arrest and then moved to a prison in January 2011.
The military government held new elections in 2011. Mahamadou Issoufou, who had been Tandja's main opponent for many years, won these elections. The military handed power back to a civilian government when Issoufou became president in April 2011.
A month later, a court in Niamey dropped all legal actions against Tandja. He was released on May 10, 2011. Leaders from his MNSD party visited him to welcome him home. It was not clear if he would return to active politics.
Later Life and Death
In his final years, Mamadou Tandja suffered from an illness. He traveled to France, Germany, and Morocco to receive medical care.
He passed away on November 24, 2020, in Niamey, Niger, at the age of 82.
Images for kids
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Tandja visiting President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C., June 2005.
See also
In Spanish: Mamadou Tandja para niños
