Brigi Rafini
Brigi Rafini | |
---|---|
Prime Minister of Niger | |
Assumed office 7 April 2011 | |
President | Mahamadou Issoufou |
Preceded by | Mahamadou Danda |
Personal details | |
Born | Iferouane, French West Africa (now Niger) | 7 April 1953
Political party | Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism |
Alma mater | National School of Administration |
Brigi Rafini (born 7 April 1953) is a Nigerien politician who has been Prime Minister of Niger since 2011. A native of Iférouane in Agadez Region[1] and an ethnic Tuareg, Rafini was Minister of Agriculture in the late 1980s and Fourth Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed as Prime Minister after Mahamadou Issoufou took office as President on 7 April 2011.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Career
Brigi Rafini was born in 1953 at Iférouane in Agadez Region, part of the Colony of Niger in French West Africa. Rafini attended primary and secondary school in Iférouane and Agadez. From 1971 to 1974 he attended the National School of Administration (ENA) in Niamey, returning for advanced study from 1978 to 1981.[1][13] In 1983 he spent a year at the French International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP) in Paris. He returned to Paris a decade later, to the French National School of Administration (ENA) from 1994 to 1995.[1][13]
Political affiliation
Brigi Rafini, as a civil administrator, minister, and office holder, has represented four different political parties since the 1980s. He was a member of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) during the time it was the unitary party (1989-1991), left to join the breakaway faction that became the Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP) during the democratic Third Republic (1993-1996), and helped form the ruling Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP-Jama'a) party during the presidency of Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara (1996-1999). He served as a parliamentarian and assembly officer under the RDP in opposition during the Fifth Republic (1999-2009). He has since been reported to have formally joined the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), elected to power in 2011.[4][14]
Prime Minister
When Mahamadou Issoufou, who won the January–March 2011 presidential election, took office as President on 7 April 2011, he promptly appointed Rafini as Prime Minister. The 23-member government headed by Rafini was appointed on 21 April 2011.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Le Premier ministre, M Brigi Rafini : un homme d'une grande expérience politique à la tête du gouvernement. Oumarou Moussa, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2011-04-11.
- ^ Niger's new leader names Brigi Rafini prime minister, Reuters 2011-04-11.
- ^ AFP: Niger's new president appoints Tuareg as prime minister 2011-04-11.
- ^ a b Brigi Rafini, un ancien administrateur civil nommé Premier ministre du Niger, African Press Agency, 2011-04-08.
- ^ Editorial : un choix avisé. Saïdou Daoura, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2011-04-11.
- ^ Insécurité au Nord Niger: La mission de Brigi Rafini vers le MNJ, Ibrahim Elhadj Hima, Roue de l’Histoire (Niamey) number 372 2007-11-03
- ^ Niger rebels release 6 more government soldiers - AP 2007-08-05
- ^ France sees Areva progress, offers Niger mine aid Reuters 2007-08-04
- ^ Niger : libération d’une partie de militaires pris en otage par le MNJ Le Potentiale (Kinshahsa), 2007-08-07
- ^ Visite d’étude de trois députés et deux fonctionnaires de l’Assemblée nationale du Niger 30 juin au 4 juillet 2008 Assemblée nationale - Coopération interparlementaire - XIII° législature, French National Assembly, July 2008.
- ^ M. Brigi Rafini, 4ème vice-président de l'Assemblée nationale et maire de la Commune rurale d'Iférouane. Assane Soumana, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2009-04-03.
- ^ Human rights of parliamentarians: 186th Governing Council session International Parliamentary Union report on Niger, 2009.
- ^ a b Niger: Brigi Rafini, un Touareg énarque à la tête du gouvernement. Boureima Hama, AFP, 2011-04-14.
- ^ Les 4 premiers décrets de la 7ème République : Mahamadou Issoufou signe 3 décrets de nomination et 1 de convocation de l'Assemblée nationale. Mahamadou Diallo, Niger Diaspora. 2011-04-08.
- ^ "Niger unveils new government", AFP, 21 April 2011.