Alliance of the Forces of Change (Niger)
Encyclopedia
The Alliance of the Forces of Change (in French
: Alliance des forces du changement, AFC) was one of the two large political coalitions which contested for power in Niger
from 1991 to 1996.
, as well as a perception among some of in the traditional elites of Nigerien Hausaland, that previous regimes had favoured the Djerma
--Songhai since independence. As well, one traditional Djerma leader, Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye, lost out of a role in the leadership of the MNSD, and brought his Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
(ANDP-Zaman Lahiya) into the AFC.
-Rahama (CDS-Rahama), led by Mahamane Ousmane
, and the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
-Tarayya (PNDS-Tarayya), led by Mahamadou Issoufou
. Both these men were of Hausa background, and both parties relied upon Hausaland as one, though far from all, of their bases of support.
, making it the first ruling party of the Third Republic, and the first democratically elected government of Niger since independence. Mahamane Ousmane
, became President and Mahamadou Issoufou
became Prime Minister.
, new presidential elections in July 1996, and the military's arrest of major opposition candidates to Maïnassara. A side effect of this was the dissolution of the AFC as a political block.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Alliance des forces du changement, AFC) was one of the two large political coalitions which contested for power in Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
from 1991 to 1996.
Formation
The AFC was formed following the end of military rule in the 1991-1993 transition period. It consisted of nine parties, although one left the coalition in 1994. The AFC based its broad stance on opposition to the National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara (MNSD-Nassara), the political coalition set up by former ruler General Ali SaibouAli 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...
, as well as a perception among some of in the traditional elites of Nigerien Hausaland, that previous regimes had favoured the Djerma
Djerma
The Zarma people , are a people of westernmost Niger and adjacent areas of Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria. The Zarma language is one of the Songhai languages, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family...
--Songhai since independence. As well, one traditional Djerma leader, Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye, lost out of a role in the leadership of the MNSD, and brought his Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress
The Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress is a political party in Niger. Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye led the party from its foundation in the early 1990s until his death in 2009.- Second Republic :...
(ANDP-Zaman Lahiya) into the AFC.
Bases of support
The largest powers in the AFC were the Democratic and Social ConventionDemocratic and Social Convention
The Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama is a political party in Niger. It was founded in January 1991. In the 1993 presidential election, the party's leader, Mahamane Ousmane, was elected president...
-Rahama (CDS-Rahama), led by Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane is a Nigerien politician. He was the first democratically elected and fourth President of Niger, serving from 16 April 1993 until his ouster in a military coup d'état on 27 January 1996. He has continued to run for President in each election since his ouster, and he was President...
, and the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism is a political party in Niger. It is a broadly left-wing party, part of the Socialist International; since 2011 it has been in power following the election of its long-time leader, Mahamadou Issoufou, as President of Niger. Mohamed Bazoum is Acting...
-Tarayya (PNDS-Tarayya), led by 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...
. Both these men were of Hausa background, and both parties relied upon Hausaland as one, though far from all, of their bases of support.
In power 1993-1994
In the February 1993 elections, the AFC took 50 of 83 seats in the new National AssemblyNational 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:...
, making it the first ruling party of the Third Republic, and the first democratically elected government of Niger since independence. Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane
Mahamane Ousmane is a Nigerien politician. He was the first democratically elected and fourth President of Niger, serving from 16 April 1993 until his ouster in a military coup d'état on 27 January 1996. He has continued to run for President in each election since his ouster, and he was President...
, became President and 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...
became Prime Minister.
Fracturing 1994-1995
But the AFC's fragile coalition, in no small measure based on simple desire to keep the MNSD out, soon teetered. In 1994, Prime Minister Issoufou and his PNDS broke from the coalition. In a 21 September 1994 decree, Ousmane had strengthened his powers at the expense of those of the prime minister, and Issoufou resigned on 28 September rather than accept this. The PNDS was unwilling to put forward another candidate to take Issoufou's place and withdrew from the AFC, thereby depriving the AFC of its parliamentary majority. The PNDS then formed an alliance with the opposition MNSD despite its history of hostility toward that party; Adji Kirgam and Mazou Ibrahim, two PNDS leaders who opposed this alliance, were expelled from the party. In the process the small PPN-RDA crossed over to the opposition as well. In the February 1995 elections which Ousmane called to form a new house, the MNSD took parliament and the Prime Minister's post, with the AFC winning only 40 of the 83 seats, and leading to a period of rancorous cohabitation with President Mahamane Ousmane.End of the Third Republic 1996
This period of government infighting led, in part, to the January 1996 military coup by Ibrahim Baré MaïnassaraIbrahim Baré Maïnassara
Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara was a military officer in the West African country of Niger who seized power in a January 1996 coup d'état and ruled the country until his assassination during the military coup of April 1999....
, new presidential elections in July 1996, and the military's arrest of major opposition candidates to Maïnassara. A side effect of this was the dissolution of the AFC as a political block.
Parties of the AFC 1991-1996
- Democratic and Social ConventionDemocratic and Social ConventionThe Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama is a political party in Niger. It was founded in January 1991. In the 1993 presidential election, the party's leader, Mahamane Ousmane, was elected president...
-Rahama (CDS-Rahama) - Nigerien Party for Democracy and SocialismNigerien Party for Democracy and SocialismThe Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism is a political party in Niger. It is a broadly left-wing party, part of the Socialist International; since 2011 it has been in power following the election of its long-time leader, Mahamadou Issoufou, as President of Niger. Mohamed Bazoum is Acting...
-Tarayya (PNDS-Tarayya) 1991-1994 - Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and ProgressNigerien Alliance for Democracy and ProgressThe Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress is a political party in Niger. Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye led the party from its foundation in the early 1990s until his death in 2009.- Second Republic :...
-Zaman Lahiya (ANDP-Zaman Lahiya) - Niger Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA) 1991-1994
- Union for Democracy and Social ProgressUnion for Democracy and Social ProgressThe Union for Democracy and Social Progress is one of major contemporary political parties in Democratic Republic of the Congo along with MLC. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous operation in Democratic Republic of the Congo...
-Amana (UDPS-Amana) - Niger Social Democratic Party (PSDN-Alheri)
- Union for Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua (UPDP-Chamoua)
- Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba (UDFP-Sawaba)
- Republican Party for Liberty and Progress-Nakowa (PRLPN-Nakowa)