Mohamed Bazoum
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Bazoum is a Niger
ien politician who has served in the government of Niger as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
since April 2011; previously he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996. He is the Vice-President of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
(PNDS-Tarayya). During the 2004–2009 parliamentary term he was the Third Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger
and the Vice-President of the PNDS Parliamentary Group.
from 1991 to 1993. He was elected to the National Assembly from the special constituency of Tesker
as the PNDS candidate in a special election held on April 11, 1993; this followed the cancellation of the initial election in Tesker, held in February.
After the January 1995 parliamentary election, which was won by an opposition coalition of the National Movement for the Development of Society
(MNSD) and the PNDS, Bazoum became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the government of Prime Minister Hama Amadou
, named on February 25, 1995. He was initially reappointed to that post after Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
seized power in a military coup on January 27, 1996, but he was replaced in the government named on May 5, 1996. The PNDS opposed Maïnassara, and on July 26, 1996, Bazoum was placed under house arrest along with PNDS President Mahamadou Issoufou
, a few weeks after the 1996 presidential election
. He and Issoufou were released on the orders of a judge on August 12, 1996.
Bazoum was arrested along with two other major opposition politicians, including MNSD Secretary-General Hama Amadou, in early January 1998, for allegedly participating in a plot to assassinate Maïnassara. He was never charged and was released a week after his arrest.
At the Fourth Ordinary Congress of the PNDS, held on 4–5 September 2011, Bazoum was elected as its Vice-President. Bazoum was again elected to the National Assembly in the December 2004 parliamentary election
, and during the parliamentary term that followed he was Third Vice-President of the National Assembly and Vice-President of the PNDS Parliamentary Group.
Bazoum was one of 14 deputies who filed a censure motion against Prime Minister Hama Amadou on May 26, 2007; Amadou's government was defeated in the subsequent no-confidence vote on May 31, and Bazoum praised "maturity of the political class of Niger that has just put an end to the mandate of the team which specialised in the predation of public funds."
After urging the people to boycott the August 2009 constitutional referendum
, Bazoum was briefly detained and questioned for two hours on 14 July 2009. Bazoum was re-elected as PNDS Vice-President at the party's Fifth Ordinary Congress, held on 18 July 2009. Following the success of the referendum, he characterized it as a "coup d'etat" and said that the October 2009 parliamentary election
was an "electoral farce" intended merely to add a "democratic polish".
President Mamadou Tandja was ousted by a military coup
on 18 February 2010. Bazoum said on the occasion that "this is exactly what we were afraid of, a military resolution. Tandja could have avoided this." As one of the leading members of the Coordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic (CFDR), an opposition coalition, he said on 23 February that the CFDR wanted Tandja to be put on trial for high treason
because he had abrogated the 1999 constitution in his efforts to remain in power. According to Bazoum, such a trial was necessary to deter future leaders from pursuing a similar course. He said that the junta should hold Tandja until "democratic institutions" were in place, and then Tandja should be tried, although he also said that he felt the death penalty would be unnecessary.
After Mahamadou Issoufou won the January–March 2011 presidential election
, he stepped down as PNDS President in March 2011, prior to his swearing-in, in accordance with the requirement that the head of state not participate in partisan politics; Bazoum took over as Acting President of the PNDS. Issoufou took office as President of Niger on 7 April 2011, and Bazoum was appointed to the government as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration, and Nigeriens Abroad on 21 April 2011.
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...
ien politician who has served in the government of Niger as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration (Niger)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration of the Government of Niger is the government authority responsible for the Foreign relations of Niger and its diplomatic corps abroad...
since April 2011; previously he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996. He is the Vice-President of 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...
(PNDS-Tarayya). During the 2004–2009 parliamentary term he was the Third Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger
National 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:...
and the Vice-President of the PNDS Parliamentary Group.
Political career
Bazoum served as Secretary of State under the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in charge of Cooperation, in the transitional government of Prime Minister Amadou CheiffouAmadou Cheiffou
Amadou Cheiffou is a Nigerien politician. He was the transitional Prime Minister of Niger from 26 October 1991 to 17 April 1993...
from 1991 to 1993. He was elected to the National Assembly from the special constituency of Tesker
Tesker
Tesker is a village and rural commune in Niger. It is the birthplace of musician Mamane Barka.-References:...
as the PNDS candidate in a special election held on April 11, 1993; this followed the cancellation of the initial election in Tesker, held in February.
After the January 1995 parliamentary election, which was won by an opposition coalition of the National Movement for the Development of Society
National Movement for the Development of Society
The National Movement for the Society of Development - MNSD / MNSD-Nassara is a political party in Niger. Founded under the military government of the 1974-1990 period, it was the ruling party of Niger from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1999 until a coup on February 18, 2010, by a military junta...
(MNSD) and the PNDS, Bazoum became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the government of Prime Minister Hama Amadou
Hama Amadou
Hama Amadou is a Nigerien politician who was Prime Minister of Niger from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2007. He was also Secretary-General of the National Movement for the Development of Society from 1991 to 2001 and President of the MNSD-Nassara from 2001 to 2009...
, named on February 25, 1995. He was initially reappointed to that post after Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
Ibrahim 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....
seized power in a military coup on January 27, 1996, but he was replaced in the government named on May 5, 1996. The PNDS opposed Maïnassara, and on July 26, 1996, Bazoum was placed under house arrest along with PNDS President 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...
, a few weeks after the 1996 presidential election
Nigerien presidential election, 1996
Presidential elections were held in Niger on 7 and 8 July 1996. It followed the approval of a new constitution in a referendum in May after a military coup had removed elected President Mahamane Ousmane in January...
. He and Issoufou were released on the orders of a judge on August 12, 1996.
Bazoum was arrested along with two other major opposition politicians, including MNSD Secretary-General Hama Amadou, in early January 1998, for allegedly participating in a plot to assassinate Maïnassara. He was never charged and was released a week after his arrest.
At the Fourth Ordinary Congress of the PNDS, held on 4–5 September 2011, Bazoum was elected as its Vice-President. Bazoum was again elected to the National Assembly in the December 2004 parliamentary election
Nigerien parliamentary election, 2004
A parliamentary election was held in Niger on 4 December 2004 alongside a simultaneous presidential election. 105 members were elected in 8 multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system...
, and during the parliamentary term that followed he was Third Vice-President of the National Assembly and Vice-President of the PNDS Parliamentary Group.
Bazoum was one of 14 deputies who filed a censure motion against Prime Minister Hama Amadou on May 26, 2007; Amadou's government was defeated in the subsequent no-confidence vote on May 31, and Bazoum praised "maturity of the political class of Niger that has just put an end to the mandate of the team which specialised in the predation of public funds."
After urging the people to boycott the August 2009 constitutional referendum
Nigerien constitutional referendum, 2009
A constitutional referendum was held in Niger on 4 August 2009. The purpose of the referendum was to submit to Nigerien voters the dissolution of the Fifth Republic of Niger and the creation of a "Sixth Republic of Niger" under a fully presidential system of government...
, Bazoum was briefly detained and questioned for two hours on 14 July 2009. Bazoum was re-elected as PNDS Vice-President at the party's Fifth Ordinary Congress, held on 18 July 2009. Following the success of the referendum, he characterized it as a "coup d'etat" and said that the October 2009 parliamentary election
Nigerien parliamentary election, 2009
A parliamentary election was held in Niger on 20 October 2009, in the wake of President Mamadou Tandja's dissolution of the National Assembly in May 2009 and a successful constitution referendum in August 2009.-Election date:...
was an "electoral farce" intended merely to add a "democratic polish".
President Mamadou Tandja was ousted by a military coup
2010 Nigerien coup d'état
A coup d'état occurred in Niger on 18 February 2010. Soldiers attacked the presidential palace in Niamey under weapons fire at midday and captured President Mamadou Tandja, who was chairing a government meeting at the time...
on 18 February 2010. Bazoum said on the occasion that "this is exactly what we were afraid of, a military resolution. Tandja could have avoided this." As one of the leading members of the Coordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic (CFDR), an opposition coalition, he said on 23 February that the CFDR wanted Tandja to be put on trial for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
because he had abrogated the 1999 constitution in his efforts to remain in power. According to Bazoum, such a trial was necessary to deter future leaders from pursuing a similar course. He said that the junta should hold Tandja until "democratic institutions" were in place, and then Tandja should be tried, although he also said that he felt the death penalty would be unnecessary.
After Mahamadou Issoufou won the January–March 2011 presidential election
Nigerien presidential election, 2011
The Republic of Niger held a presidential election on 31 January 2011. The first round was to be held on January 3 and the second round on January 31, but those dates were postponed to 31 January 2011 and 12 March 2011...
, he stepped down as PNDS President in March 2011, prior to his swearing-in, in accordance with the requirement that the head of state not participate in partisan politics; Bazoum took over as Acting President of the PNDS. Issoufou took office as President of Niger on 7 April 2011, and Bazoum was appointed to the government as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration, and Nigeriens Abroad on 21 April 2011.