Mainassara, Ibrahim Bare

▪ 2000

      Nigerois soldier, diplomat, and politician (b. May 9, 1949, Maradi, Niger, French West Africa—d. April 9, 1999, Niamey, Niger), followed a distinguished career of diplomatic and military service with the orchestration of a coup d'état in 1996 that overthrew Niger's first democratically elected government; he then ruled as president until his assassination. Maïnassara, a Muslim of Hausa ancestry, enlisted in the army in 1970 and three years later became aide-de-camp to Pres. Seyni Kountché, whom he served so devoutly that he was made leader of the Presidential Guard in 1976. Two years later he was awarded command of the army's prestigious airborne regiment. He served as Niger's military attaché to the ambassador to France (1986–87), health minister (1987–88), ambassador to France (1988–90), and ambassador to Algeria (1990–92). In 1992 he was designated defense adviser to Prime Minister Amadou Cheiffou. With the establishment of Niger's first democracy in 1993, Maïnassara served as chief of staff for Pres. Mahamane Ousmane, and in March 1995 Amadou appointed him army chief. At that time Ousmane was preparing to dissolve the opposition-controlled legislature, which threatened to outlaw the president's own political party, the Democratic and Social Convention. On Jan. 27, 1996, Maïnassara placed the president under house arrest, suspended the constitution, banned political parties, and proclaimed himself head of the newly formed National Salvation Council. Facing the cutoff of aid money from both the U.S. and France, he arranged for new elections in July, which he won under questionable circumstances that included the house arrest of opposition candidates. Maïnassara was criticized for repressive actions, and he survived various failed mutinies and coups d'état. In the weeks prior to his death, he nullified local election returns. Maïnassara and his personal bodyguards were machine-gunned at Niamey's airport, reportedly by members of the Presidential Guard.

▪ 1997

      On Jan. 27, 1996, Col. Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara led a successful military coup against the democratically elected (1993) Nigerois government of Pres. Mahamane Ousmane, which had been locked in an internal power struggle since 1995.

      Though many thought that democratic institutions were well established and that Niger had made a successful transition to the multiparty system, Baré attacked the politicians, calling them "greedy, badly prepared, and incapable of adapting to the demands of democratic power."

      Following the coup, Baré placed Mahamane under house arrest, banned all political parties, and suspended the constitution. International reaction was swift. The United States withdrew all economic and military aid, France suspended all monetary support, and South Africa and Germany vocally condemned the action.

      Baré, saying he had no wish to remain in power, stated he would draw up a timetable for a return to civilian rule. He called for elections on July 7 and 8, in which he ran as an independent candidate. Baré insisted upon those dates, causing rumours to circulate that he had consulted practitioners of traditional magic who deemed the dates auspicious. After the first round of elections, the polls were closed early amid confusion, and Baré had his opponents placed under house arrest. He then disbanded the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission) and set up his own National Election Commission, and on July 21 the Supreme Court validated the commission's declaration that Baré had won the election with 52.2% of the vote.

      Baré was born in 1949 in Maradi, Niger. A professional soldier, he enlisted in 1970 and became Pres. Seyni Kountché's aide-de-camp in 1974. Under Kountché's rule, Baré was appointed commander of the Presidential Guard and subsequently headed the parachute division. He held a series of overseas posts, including military attaché to the Nigerois embassy in Paris, before serving as health minister from 1987 to 1988, ambassador to Paris (1988-90), and ambassador to Algeria (1990-92). He then returned to Niger to become defense adviser to Cheiffou Amadou, the transitional prime minister. In 1993 Mahamane appointed Baré his chief of staff, and in 1995 Prime Minister Hama Amadou named him army chief.

      (AMANDA E. FULLER)

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▪ military ruler, Niger

born May 9, 1949, Maradi, Niger, French West Africa

died April 9, 1999, Niamey, Niger

      soldier, diplomat, and politician who orchestrated a coup in 1996 that overthrew Niger's first democratically elected government. He subsequently served as president (1996–99) until his assassination.

      Maïnassara, who was of Hausa ancestry, enlisted in the army in 1970 and three years later became aide-de-camp to President Seyni Kountché. Extremely loyal to the president, Maïnassara was appointed commander of the Presidential Guard in 1976 and in 1978 was given charge of the army's prestigious airborne regiment. He held a series of overseas posts, including military attaché to the Nigerois embassy in Paris (1986–87), ambassador to Paris (1988–90), and ambassador to Algeria (1990–92), before returning to Niger in 1992 to become defense adviser to Amadou Cheiffou, the transitional prime minister.

      With the establishment of Niger's first democracy in 1993, Maïnassara was appointed chief of staff by President Mahamane Ousmane, and in 1995 Prime Minister Hama Amadou named him army chief. At that time the government was in the midst of an internal power struggle as Ousmane was preparing to dissolve the opposition-controlled legislature, which was threatening to outlaw the president's political party, the Democratic and Social Convention. On January 27, 1996, Maïnassara successfully led a military coup and placed Ousmane under house arrest. Proclaiming himself head of the National Salvation Council, he suspended the constitution and banned political parties. Facing the cutoff of financial aid from both the United States and France, Maïnassara arranged for new elections in July, which he won under questionable circumstances that included the house arrest of opposition candidates.

      As president, Maïnassara was criticized for repressive actions, and he survived several assassination attempts. In April 1999, however, he was machine-gunned at Niamey's airport, reportedly by members of the Presidential Guard.

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