Tandja Mamadou

Tandja Mamadou is a Niger politician and current President.

Mamadou is the first democratically elected President of Niger after the coup that put Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara in power. In April of 1999, Maïnassara was assassinated and a new military government took over. This junta promised a return to democracy within the year, and elections were held. Mamadou and his National Movement for the Development Society won the elections, and Mamadou took office on December 22, 1999. He appointed Hama Amadou as his Prime Minister.

Niger was heavily in debt and was not receiving any foreign aid due to Maïnassara's coup in 1996. Mamadou focused on economic development, negotiating with the civil service unions and with foreign donors. Many did not approve of Mamadou's measures in reducing government spending. In 2001, students at the University of Niamey staged violent protests against the reduction of their government grants. In 2002, some soldiers started a rebellion claiming that they were underpaid. Loyalists defeated the rebels and restored peace, but Mamadou came under political fire for his decrees blocking communication about the rebellion.

Mamadou's position is up for re-election in November 2004.