Seyni Oumarou
Prime Minister of Niger
In office
7 June 2007 – 23 September 2009
President: Tandja Mamadou
Preceded by: Hama Amadou
Succeeded
by : Albadé Abouba (Acting)
Born : 9 August 1950 (age 59)
Tillabéri, Niger
Political
party : National Movement for the Development of Society
Early career
Oumarou was born in Tillabéri. His family name, Seyni, usually precedes his given name, and is sometimes spelled Seini or Seïni. He was Director-General of the Nigerien Paper Transformation Enterprise (ENITRAP) from 1987 to 1998, and in 1995 he became special advisor to Prime Minister Hama Amadou.[1] Oumarou was named Minister of Trade and Industry on April 16, 1999 under the transitional military regime of Daouda Malam Wanké, and following elections he remained in his position as part of the government of Hama Amadou (who returned as Prime Minister), which was named on January 5, 2000.[4][5][6] He was then named Minister of Trade and the Promotion of the Private Sector on September 17, 2001 and Minister of Trade, Industry, the Craft Industry, and the Promotion of the Private Sector on February 12, 2004. On November 12, 2004, following a number of resignations by ministers contesting that year’s elections, Oumarou was additionally placed in charge of public health, the fight against endemic diseases, and hospital reforms, until he was named Minister of State for Equipment in a new government on December 30, 2004.[7] In this position he was the third ranking member of the government (after Amadou and Minister of State Abdou Labo).[6]
As Prime Minister
Oumarou remained Minister of State for Equipment when Amadou and his government lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on May 31, 2007. President Tandja Mamadou chose Oumarou as Prime Minister on June 3; he had been proposed for the position by the MNSD and was one of three candidates for the position put forward by the National Assembly.[2] Oumarou’s appointment was opposed by the main opposition party, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), as well as a number of civil society organizations, because he was so closely associated with his predecessor and possibly tainted by the same corruption scandal related to embezzlement of education funds that caused the no-confidence vote against Amadou.[8][9] Oumarou was sworn in as Prime Minister on June 7,[10] and his new government was named on June 9,[11] with 32 members (including Oumarou).[12]
In 2007, Oumarou was President of the MNSD section in Tillabéri and a Vice-President of the party’s National Political Bureau.[1]
Tuareg conflict
Oumarou said on July 13, 2007 that the government would not negotiate with the Movement of Nigeriens for Justice rebel group in northern Niger.[13]
