Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara
| Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 5th President of Niger | |
|
In office January 27, 1996 – April 9, 1999 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Boukary Adji Amadou Cissé Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki |
| Preceded by | Mahamane Ousmane |
| Succeeded by | Daouda Malam Wanké |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 9, 1949 Dogondoutchi, Niger, French West Africa |
| Died | April 9, 1999 (aged 49) Niamey, Niger |
| Political party | UNIRD→RDP–Jama'a |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Nigerien Army |
| Years of service | 1970–1996 |
| Rank | Colonel |
Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara (May 9, 1949 – April 9, 1999) was a military officer in Niger who seized power in a January 1996 coup d'état and ruled the country until his assassination during the military coup of April 1999.
Maïnassara, a member of Niger's Hausa ethnic majority, was born in Dogondutchi in 1949, and pursued a military career. Maïnassara was named Army Chief of Staff in March 1995, under a constitution which had moved Niger from military rule in 1991.
Parliamentary elections in January 1995 resulted in cohabitation between President Mahamane Ousmane and a parliament controlled by his opponents, led by Prime Minister Hama Amadou. Rivalry between Ousmane and Amadou effectively paralyzed the government, and Maïnassara seized power on January 27, 1996, pointing to the difficult political situation as justification.
Under Maïnassara's rule, a new constitution was approved by referendum in May 1996, and a presidential election was held on July 7–8, 1996. Maïnassara took about 52% of the vote, but the election was widely viewed as fraudulent. On the second day of polling he had the electoral commission dissolved and replaced it with another electoral commission; on the same day, he also had the four opposition candidates placed under house arrest, which lasted for two weeks. Maïnassara was sworn in on August 7.
The National Union of Independents for Democratic Renewal (UNIRD) was established in 1996 to support Maïnassara in that year's elections, but subsequently the Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a was established as the ruling party. With the constitution barring presidents from leading parties, Hamid Algabid became leader of the RDP-Jama'a in August 1997.
Local elections were held in February 1999, and in early April the Supreme Court released results which showed the opposition winning more seats than Maïnassara's supporters; the Court also cancelled the results in many areas and ordered elections there to be held again. The opposition called for protests against the cancellation of results on April 8.
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