Abdoulaye Hamani Diori
Encyclopedia
Abdoulaye Hamani Diori (29 December 1945 - 25 April 2011) was a Nigerien political leader and businessman. The son of Niger's first President, he waged a political and abortive military struggle against the Military regime that overthrew his father. With the return of democracy to Niger, Abdoulaye became head of his father's political party, and maintained a small but influential place in the political life of Niger until his death in 2011. Abdoulaye was married with four children. A Muslim
, he earned the honorific 'Hadji' after making the pilgrimage
to Mecca
. He died 25 April 2011 at National Hospital in Niamey, aged 65, following an illness.
, and campaigned from exile on his father's behalf following the 1974 coup which removed Diori from power and resulted in the death of his mother. In the 1980s -- following his father's 1980 release from prison and house arrest in 1984 -- Abdoulaye became political leader of a short lived armed rebel group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Niger (FPLN). The FPLN, made up mostly of Nigerien Tuareg fighters and based in Libya
, carried out an armed assault on an armory in the northern town of Tchintabaradene in March 1985, but was repulsed by government forces. Following the attack, Abdoulaye's father was re-imprisoned to be released only upon the death of Niger's military leader in 1987. Following the death of Seyni Kountche
, Abdoulaye returned from Libya, joining his father and their former political rival Sawaba
leader Djibo Bakary
in meeting with new President Ali Saibou
, announcing an amnesty and a series of reforms.
, working in coalition with then Prime Minister of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou
. Diori was chosen as Vice President of the Assembly at that time. In 2004 he returned as minister to the National Assembly, and was elected President of the Defense Commission of the National Assembly for the 2004-2008 session. Like his father, Abdoulaye Hamani Diori stood for elections representing constituencies in Dogondoutchi Department
, Dosso Region, centered around his mother's native town of Togone and his father's native town of Soudouré
, Dosso Region (which is now part of the Niamey Capital District). He was also involved in a number of private enterprises, including the charter airline Air Niamey
. Abdoulaye opposed the failed attempt by former President Mamadou Tandja to extend his term under an new constitution in 2009, and supported the 18 February 2010 coup to depose Tandja, saying "The government created the environment for the coup to take place". supported Mahamadou Issoufou
in his successful bid to become the first President of the Nigerien 7th Republic in 2011. He was appointed government Minister as Special Councilor to the President on 7 April 2011, and attended the 6 April inauguration of the President. Abdoulaye Hamani Diori died in Niamey
at age 65 on 25 April 2011 following an illness. He was survived by his wife and four children Abdoulaye Hamani Diori was interred on 26 April 2011 next to his father in Soudouré
following a funeral cortege overseen by the President, Prime Minister, President of the National Assembly, and other Nigerien political leaders.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, he earned the honorific 'Hadji' after making the pilgrimage
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. He died 25 April 2011 at National Hospital in Niamey, aged 65, following an illness.
Opposition and exile
Abdoulaye was the eldest son of Niger's first President, Hamani DioriHamani Diori
Hamani Diori was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence.- Youth :...
, and campaigned from exile on his father's behalf following the 1974 coup which removed Diori from power and resulted in the death of his mother. In the 1980s -- following his father's 1980 release from prison and house arrest in 1984 -- Abdoulaye became political leader of a short lived armed rebel group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Niger (FPLN). The FPLN, made up mostly of Nigerien Tuareg fighters and based in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, carried out an armed assault on an armory in the northern town of Tchintabaradene in March 1985, but was repulsed by government forces. Following the attack, Abdoulaye's father was re-imprisoned to be released only upon the death of Niger's military leader in 1987. Following the death of Seyni Kountche
Seyni Kountché
Seyni Kountché 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 1974 to 1987...
, Abdoulaye returned from Libya, joining his father and their former political rival Sawaba
Sawaba
The Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba is a political party in Niger, founded as the Nigerien Democratic Union in 1954. The original party, founded by Nigerien Progressive Party co-leader Djibo Bakary when he was expelled from the PPN...
leader Djibo Bakary
Djibo Bakary
Djibo Bakary 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...
in meeting with new President Ali Saibou
Ali Saibou
Ali Saibou was the third President of Niger from 1987 to 1993 succeeding the deceased Seyni Kountché.A member of the Djerma people, he was born in Dingajibanda, a village in the Ouallam arrondissement. Although from Kountché's home village, Saibou is not a cousin...
, announcing an amnesty and a series of reforms.
Political leader
Abdoulaye returned to politics when military rule finally ended in 1991 as Niamey chapter leader of his father's former party, the PPN-RDA. He quickly rose to Party Vice President, and succeeded Professor Dan Dicko Koulodo as elected president of the PPN-RDA following the former's death. Under his leadership, the PPN-RDA remained a marginal party, working in coalitions with larger groupings. In 1995 Abdoulaye was elected to the National Assembly of NigerNational Assembly of Niger
The unicameral National Assembly of Niger is the country's sole legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.-History:...
, working in coalition with then Prime Minister of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou is a Nigerien politician who has been President of Niger since 7 April 2011. Previously he was Prime Minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994 and President of the National Assembly from 1995 to 1996, and he has stood as a candidate in each presidential election since 1993.Issoufou...
. Diori was chosen as Vice President of the Assembly at that time. In 2004 he returned as minister to the National Assembly, and was elected President of the Defense Commission of the National Assembly for the 2004-2008 session. Like his father, Abdoulaye Hamani Diori stood for elections representing constituencies in Dogondoutchi Department
Dogondoutchi Department
Dogondoutchi is a department of the Dosso Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Dogondoutchi....
, Dosso Region, centered around his mother's native town of Togone and his father's native town of Soudouré
Soudouré
Soudouré is a village in western Niger. It is located along the Niger River northwest of the capital city, Niamey. It is located in the Niamey Capital District....
, Dosso Region (which is now part of the Niamey Capital District). He was also involved in a number of private enterprises, including the charter airline Air Niamey
Air Niamey
Air Niamey is a charter airlines based in Niamey, Niger. Its main base is Diori Hamani International Airport. It is formed as a successor to Air Niger, operating ACMI equipment only during Hajj/Umrah periods....
. Abdoulaye opposed the failed attempt by former President Mamadou Tandja to extend his term under an new constitution in 2009, and supported the 18 February 2010 coup to depose Tandja, saying "The government created the environment for the coup to take place". supported Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou is a Nigerien politician who has been President of Niger since 7 April 2011. Previously he was Prime Minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994 and President of the National Assembly from 1995 to 1996, and he has stood as a candidate in each presidential election since 1993.Issoufou...
in his successful bid to become the first President of the Nigerien 7th Republic in 2011. He was appointed government Minister as Special Councilor to the President on 7 April 2011, and attended the 6 April inauguration of the President. Abdoulaye Hamani Diori died in Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
at age 65 on 25 April 2011 following an illness. He was survived by his wife and four children Abdoulaye Hamani Diori was interred on 26 April 2011 next to his father in Soudouré
Soudouré
Soudouré is a village in western Niger. It is located along the Niger River northwest of the capital city, Niamey. It is located in the Niamey Capital District....
following a funeral cortege overseen by the President, Prime Minister, President of the National Assembly, and other Nigerien political leaders.