Nigerien Progressive Party

The Nigerien Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA) (French: Parti Progressiste Nigérien-Rassemblement Démocratique Nigerien) is a political party in Niger.^[1] It was the leading political party of the pre-independence era, becoming the sole legal party of the First Republic (1960-1974). It was led by Niger's first President, Hamani Diori. After the end of military rule, the party reappeared as a minor parliamentary party led by Diori's son, Abdoulaye Hamani Diori.

Pre-independence

As the name indicates, the PPN confederated in 1946 with a grouping of regional of pro-independence parties within French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa to form the Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (African Democratic Rally -- RDA ).^[2] Under the leadership of Hamani Diori, the PPN paired appeals to traditional society within what was then the Colony of Niger while its representatives worked with the French Communist Party in France, which was then the only force supporting independence for France's colonial possessions.^[3]

In 1946 the single pro-Independence party in Niger was the Nigerien Progressive Party (PPN), of which Hamani Diori and Djibo Bakary were the most prominent members, and which numbered only 5000 members.^[4] Simultaneously, these colonial territories were allowed limited representation in the French National Assembly, with Niger allotted one seat in 1946 and a second in 1948. PPN Party leader Hamani Diori filled the first, and a French educated Niamey lawyer, Djibo Bakary filled the second.^[5] Bakary, a leftist, helped push the party -- already perceived as anti-French -- in a populist direction. The PPN was allied to the pan-colony African Democratic Rally (RDA), which itself caucused with the French Communist Party in the National Assembly. Some elements, such as RDA leader Félix Houphouët-Boigny, were uncomfortable with this connection. Many in the PPN felt the same way, while many other, grouped around Bakary and the tiny Nigerien Trades Union movement, pulled to the left. Earlier splits of the PPN, of conservative Djerma traditional leaders and a small Franco-Nigerien contingent in 1946, were added to 1948 in reaction to Bakary and his circle and to the continued association with the RDA. Harou Kouka and Georges Condat split to form a group ("Parti Independent du Niger-Est PINE") that quickly joined with previous dissidents to create the Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathizers (UNIS). This relatively conservative coalition benefited from French support, and gained control of the consultative institutions of the Niger colony from 1948-1952.^[3] Diori, much like RDA chair Félix Houphouët-Boigny, broke from the PCF in 1951 and by 1958 was close to the colonial authorities in Niamey. This faction retained both the PPN name and the connection with the RDA, while Djibo Bakary now broke from the RDA to retain ties with the French Communist Party. Bakary's new party, SAWABA, prospered in the 1956 territorial assembly elections to the detriment of the PPN.^[6] In 1958's constitutional referendum and assembly elections, the PPN supported continued association with France under the French Community, while its primary rival, called for immediate independence from France. The PPN swept territorial elections making Diori chair of the Assembly (essentially, Prime Minister to the colonial governor's presidential role). SAWABA was suppressed and outlawed prior to independence in 1960 with the help of French officials.^[6][7]

Single party

The PPN-RDA was the country's sole legal party from 1960 until 1974, when the regime of President Hamani Diori was overthrown in a military coup.^[3] During this period public criticism of the leadership was forbidden, Assembly sessions were largely ceremonial, and practical governance was carried out by the Political Bureau of the PPN, headed by Diori, Boubou Hama, and a small cadre of supporters.^[3] The PPN was reviled by many as tied to traditional elites (especially from the west of the country), too close a partner with French interests, and financially corrupt.^[3] The famine which struck the region following the 1969-73 drought, scandals surrounding lack of food aid, along with personal discontent amongst the military, led to the April 1974 coup which ended the PPN's role in Nigerien politics.^[3]

Democratic era

The party was resurrected in 1991, following the return to democracy, under the leadership of Diori's eldest son Abdoulaye Hamani Diori. The PPN-RDA held a handful of parliamentary seats during the Third Republic and again in the 1999 - 2009 Fifth Republic.^[8]

It contested the legislative elections of 4 December 2004 in an alliance with the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS).^[9] Abdoulaye Hamani Diori led its parliamentary delegation from 2004-2009. The party opposed Mamadou Tandja's constitutional referendum of 2009 and was a member of the opposition FDD (Front for Defense of Democracy) and CFDR (Coordination of Forces for Democracy and the Republic)party coalitions during the 2009 Nigerien Constitutional Crisis.^[10] It endorsed Mahamadou Issoufou of the PNDS in the 2011 Presidential Elections, but won no seats in the new National Assembly.

References

1. ^ Les partis politiques nigériens, leurs leaders respectifs et les pratiques politiques inavouables. La Roue de l'Histoire (Niamey) 24 February - 1 March 2004.
2. ^ Mazrui, Ali A., and Christophe Wondji. Africa since 1935. General history of Africa, 8. Oxford: James Currey, 1999. p. 210
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997) ISBN 0-8108-3136-8 pp. 242, 317
4. ^ Decalo (1997), p.243.
5. ^ Decalo (1997), p.242.
6. ^ ^{a b} Finn Fuglestad. Djibo Bakary, the French, and the Referendum of 1958 in Niger. The Journal of African History, Vol. 14, No. 2 (1973), pp. 313-330
7. ^ Fuglestad, Finn (1983). A History of Niger 1850-1960. African Studies series (No. 41). New York - London: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521252683. 
8. ^ Elections in Niger, African Elections Database.
9. ^ "Rapport de la Mission d’Observation des Élections Présidentielles et Législatives des 17 octobre et 24 novembre 1999"PDF (1.06 MiB), democratie.francophonie.org (French).
10. ^ Première conférence nationale de la Coordination des Forces Démocratiques pour la République (CFDR) : 15 partis politiques signent un pacte politique pour la conquête et la gestion concertée du pouvoir. Le Sahel(Niamey) 15 July 2010.