Mahamadou Danda

Mahamadou Danda (born 24 July 1951^[1]) is a Nigerien political figure who was appointed as Prime Minister of Niger by the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) on 23 February 2010 and left office on 7 April 2011.

Born in Tahoua in 1951,^[1][2] Danda studied in Niamey at the National School of Administration. He continued his studies abroad, ultimately obtaining a degree in political science in France.^[2]

Danda began working under the regime of Seyni Kountché in the 1970s;^[2] he was Sub-Prefect of Niamey in 1979 and 1980 and Sub-Prefect of Filingué from 1983 to 1987.^[3] Following Kountché's death, he was appointed to the government by Ali Saibou on 20 November 1987, serving as Minister for Animal Resources and Hydraulics^[4] until 15 July 1988, when he was dropped from the government.^[5] Subsequently he was Administrative Secretary of the National Executive Bureau of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD)^[1][6] in the early 1990s.^[6] Danda also served as Permanent Secretary of the Higher Council of National Orientation for a time.^[2]

Multiparty elections were held in Niger in 1993. Danda was Chief Technical Adviser to the Prime Minister for Institutional Issues from 23 December 1997 to 16 April 1999.^[3]

Following the April 1999 coup d'état, Danda, who was considered a representative of civil society,^[7] was appointed by the transitional junta as Minister of Communication, Culture, Youth, and Sports, as well as Government Spokesman, on 16 April 1999.^[7][8] He remained in his post as Minister of Communication until the military handed power to an elected government in December 1999.^[1][9]

Danda, who has studied in Canada, held the post of Political Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy to Niger (as locally-engaged staff) when President Mamadou Tandja was overthrown in another coup on 18 February 2010.^[2][3][10] Salou Djibo, the President of the CSRD, then appointed Danda as Prime Minister on 23 February;^[9][10][11] however, Danda was not assigned the role of head of government, which was assumed by Djibo in addition to his role as head of state.^[11]

Danda, who was not a member of any political party, was perceived as a neutral figure. That quality, in addition to his experience, was generally viewed as the reason for his appointment as Prime Minister.^[2] Upon his appointment, Danda said that he had "asked for the necessary guarantees to be sure of committing myself in the process leading to a real restoration of democracy".^[12] On 1 March 2010, Djibo appointed a transitional government composed of 20 ministers. Five portfolios were assigned to military officers, three of whom (including the Minister of Defense) were generals associated with Tandja.^[13]

While Tandja's government consistently sought to downplay the problem of famine and hunger—to the point that it was considered "an almost taboo subject"—the CSRD quickly demonstrated a different approach. On 10 March, Danda issued "an emergency appeal" to the international community for aid. According to Danda, 58% of the population could be affected by lack of food; under Tandja, the number had been placed much lower, at about 20%. Danda discussed the government's plans for emergency relief, and the United Nations and European Union both promised assistance.^[14]

Danda was part of the National Democratic Institute's delegation observing the March 2015 general election in Nigeria.^[15]