Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki was Prime Minister
of Niger
from November 27, 1997, to January 3, 2000.
, who seized power in a January 1996 coup, Mayaki was named Deputy Minister for Cooperation, under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, André Salifou
, on August 23, 1996. He was then named Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeriens Abroad in December 1996, in which position he served until being named Prime Minister in November 1997.
, the leader of the coup, to lead the country during the transition to new elections. He left office after the elections were held late in the year.
said that during Mayaki's time in office he was contacted by a businessman who asked him to meet with a delegation from Saddam Hussein
's Iraq
government, to discuss "expanding commercial relations." Mayaki interpreted that to mean they wanted to discuss the sale of yellowcake uranium
, a natural resource of Niger, though upon meeting with the delegation, the subject of uranium never came up.
None of the CIA, DIA
, or INR
analysts said this gave weight to claims that Iraq was trying to get uranium from Africa, and the Vice President (who requested the information that prompted Wilson's trip to Niger) was not briefed on the issue. There is no evidence that this claim about the meeting of an Iraqi delegation with Mayaki was used to bolster the case for war, or that it was in any way related to U.S. President George W. Bush
's claim in the 2003 State of the Union
address that "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa," which was based on what the British says in the Butler Report is completely separate evidence.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of 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 November 27, 1997, to January 3, 2000.
Fourth Republic
Under President 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....
, who seized power in a January 1996 coup, Mayaki was named Deputy Minister for Cooperation, under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, André Salifou
André Salifou
André Salifou is a Nigerien politician, diplomat, and professor. He was President of the High Council of the Republic during the 1991–93 transitional period, Foreign Minister in 1996, and an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1999....
, on August 23, 1996. He was then named Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeriens Abroad in December 1996, in which position he served until being named Prime Minister in November 1997.
Fifth Republic
When President Maïnassara was overthrown and assassinated in April 1999, Mayaki was reappointed by Daouda Malam WankéDaouda Malam Wanké
Daouda Malam Wanké was a military and political leader in Niger. He was a member of Hausa ethnic group.Wanké's year of birth is disputed. Many sources claim it is 1954 while others 1946.-Biography:...
, the leader of the coup, to lead the country during the transition to new elections. He left office after the elections were held late in the year.
In United States political scandal
According to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on prewar intelligence, Joe WilsonJoseph C. Wilson
Joseph Charles Wilson IV is a former United States diplomat best known for his 2002 trip to Niger to investigate allegations that Saddam Hussein was attempting to purchase yellowcake uranium; his New York Times op-ed piece, "What I Didn't Find in Africa"; and the subsequent "outing" of his wife...
said that during Mayaki's time in office he was contacted by a businessman who asked him to meet with a delegation from Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
government, to discuss "expanding commercial relations." Mayaki interpreted that to mean they wanted to discuss the sale of yellowcake uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
, a natural resource of Niger, though upon meeting with the delegation, the subject of uranium never came up.
None of the CIA, DIA
Dia
Dia is free and open source general-purpose diagramming software, developed originally by Alexander Larsson. Dia uses a controlled single document interface similar to GIMP and Sodipodi.- Features :...
, or INR
Bureau of Intelligence and Research
The Bureau of Intelligence and Research is an intelligence bureau in the U.S. State Department tasked with analyzing information. Originally founded as the Research and Analysis Branch of the Office of Strategic Services , it was transferred to the State Department at the end of World War II...
analysts said this gave weight to claims that Iraq was trying to get uranium from Africa, and the Vice President (who requested the information that prompted Wilson's trip to Niger) was not briefed on the issue. There is no evidence that this claim about the meeting of an Iraqi delegation with Mayaki was used to bolster the case for war, or that it was in any way related to U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's claim in the 2003 State of the Union
State Of The Union
"State Of The Union" is the debut single from British singer-songwriter David Ford. It had previously been featured as a demo on his official website, before appearing as a track on a CD entitled "Apology Demos EP," only on sale at live shows....
address that "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa," which was based on what the British says in the Butler Report is completely separate evidence.