The death of former Nigerien Prime Minister Hama Amadou, who died at the age of 74 last Thursday in the country’s capital Niamey, has plunged the nation into mourning. A major political figure, Amadou had served as Prime Minister twice, first from 1995 to 1996 and then from 1999 to 2007. In addition, he had served as Speaker of Parliament between 2011 and 2014, leaving behind an important political legacy.
A member of the National Movement for a Development Society (MNSD) party, Amadou founded the Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation party in 2009. His political commitment led him to run for the presidency of Niger on several occasions, without ever succeeding in gaining supreme power.
His political career was marked by difficult trials, including periods in prison. In 2009, he was imprisoned in a maximum security prison on embezzlement charges, which were eventually dismissed. In 2015, he was imprisoned again in connection with the illegal trafficking of infants from Nigeria, a charge he described as politically motivated.
Despite these ordeals, Amadou continued to wield significant political influence. In 2016, while still in prison, he was allowed by the Constitutional Court to run as a candidate in the March 2016 presidential election, in which he came in second place.
After leaving the country for a few years, Amadou returned to Niger following the July 2023 coup against the ruling regime. He remained out of the political spotlight until his death.
Local media reported that Amadou’s official funeral was held by the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) on Friday morning. He was buried in the presence of his family and friends, in his hometown of Youri, in western Niger.
Hama Amadou’s tumultuous political life left an indelible mark on the political landscape of Niger. His commitment to democracy and African unity will remain a precious legacy for future generations. His death marks the end of an era, but his influence will endure through time.