Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Niger has experienced a tumultuous political history marked by numerous coups d’état and attempted coups. The country’s first president, Hamani Diori, was overthrown by Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountché in 1974, who established a military dictatorship and faced several coup attempts.
After Kountché’s death in 1987, his chief of staff, Ali Saïbou, succeeded him. In 1991, a civilian government was established through a national conference, marking a return to democracy. However, in 1996, Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara overthrew the elected President Mahamane Ousmane.
Maïnassara was killed during a coup d’état in 1999, and his successor, Commander Daouda Malam Wanké, agreed to hand over power to a civilian regime. In 2010, President Mamadou Tandja was overthrown by the military, but the army promised to return power to civilians, and a democratic presidential election was held in 2011.
Mahamadou Issoufou left office in 2021 in accordance with the Constitution and was replaced by Mohamed Bazoum, who survived a coup attempt in March of the same year. This tumultuous political history underscores the challenges that Niger faces in terms of stability and governance.
Historical overview: Hamani Diori (1960-1974): The first president of Niger after independence, Hamani Diori, led the country for 14 years before being overthrown in a military coup in 1974.
Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountché (1974-1987): After Diori’s overthrow, Seyni Kountché took power and established a military dictatorship. He faced several coup attempts before dying of a brain tumor in 1987.
Ali Saïbou (1987-1991): Succeeding Kountché, Ali Saïbou led the country until 1991 when a civilian government was established through a national conference, marking a return to democracy.
Mahamane Ousmane (1993-1996): An economist and leader of the Democratic and Social Convention (CDS), Mahamane Ousmane was elected president in 1993 in a multi-party election. However, he was overthrown in a military coup in 1996.
Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara (1996-1999): After Ousmane’s overthrow, Maïnassara took power. He was killed during a coup d’état in 1999.
Commander Daouda Malam Wanké (1999-1999): Succeeding Maïnassara, Wanké agreed to hand over power to a civilian regime after a short period in power.
Mamadou Tandja (1999-2010): A former military officer and leader of the MNSD-Nassara, the former single-party, Tandja was elected president in 1999. He was overthrown in a military coup in 2010.
Mahamadou Issoufou (2011-2021): Issoufou, leader of the PNDS (Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism) and opponent of former President Tandja, was elected president in 2011. He left office in 2021 in accordance with the Constitution.
Mohamed Bazoum (2021-present): Succeeding Issoufou, Bazoum survived a coup attempt in March 2021 shortly after his election.
