Hamid Algabid

Hamid Algabid (born 1941 in Belbedji, NigerCherif Ouazani, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_afrique_dossier.asp?art_cle=LIN07114sixcaliuetu0&dos_id=91 "Six candidats pour un fauteuil"] , Jeuneafrique.com, November 7, 2004 fr icon.] ) is a Nigerien politician, former Prime Minister and President of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP-Jama'a) party.

A member of the Tuareg ethnic group,Fact|date=July 2007 Algabid served in the government during the rule of Seyni Kountché. On September 10 1979 he was named Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in which position he served until he was named Minister of Trade on February 9 1981; on June 14 1982 he was named Minister of Trade and Transport. Algabid was then named Deputy Minister for Finances on January 24 1983 [ [http://www.presidence.ne/PagesHtm/GouvKOUNTCHE.htm "Gouvernements du Président Seyni Kountché"] , official site of the Nigerien presidency fr icon.] before being named Prime Minister on 14 November 1983. [ [http://www.histoire-afrique.org/rubrique6.html?&limite=540&filtrepays= Chronology of events in West Africa] , histoire-afrique.org fr icon.] He served as Prime Minister until 15 July 1988. [ [http://www.presidence.ne/PagesHtm/GouvALICHAIBOU.htm "Gouvernements du Président Ali Chaibou"] , official site of the Nigerien presidency fr icon.] From 1989 to 1996, he was secretary-general of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). [ [http://www.oic-un.org/about/secgen.htm "Secretaries General of the OIC"] , oic-un.org.] In December 1996, he was nominated as a candidate to become Secretary-General of the United Nations, [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB081FF63E5B0C748CDDAB0994DE494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fU%2fUnited%20Nations%20 "African Countries Name Four U.N. Candidates"] , "The New York Times", December 7, 1996, Section 1, Page 6.] a post which was won by Kofi Annan.

During the rule of Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara, Algabid was named President of the RDP-Jama'a, which was established as the ruling party, on August 20 1997 at the party's national congress. [ [http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Newsletters/irinw10.html "NIGER - New party leader for RDP"] , IRIN-WA Weekly Roundup 10-97 of Main Events in West Africa covering period 19-25 August 1997.] ["Niger: Party congress ends; leaders elected", Voix du Sahel, Niamey, August 21, 1997.] Algabid also became head of the Convergence for the Republic (CPR), a pro-Maïnassara coalition composed of 15 parties, which was formed in August 1998. [ [http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Newsletters/irinw269.html "NIGER: Fifteen political parties form presidential coalition"] , IRIN-WA Update 269 of Events in West Africa, 8 - 10 August 1998.] Maïnassara was assassinated in April 1999, and a military regime scheduled a new presidential election for late in the year. Algabid ran as the RDP-Jama'a candidate in this election; although Amadou Cissé, the vice-chairman of the party, also attempted to run as the RDP candidate, [ [http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Newsletters/irinw525.html "NIGER: New constitution promulgated"] , IRIN-WA Update 525 of events in West Africa, 10 August 1999.] [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=8763 "NIGER: Eight register for November presidential poll"] , IRIN, August 30, 1999.] the Court of State approved Algabid's candidacy and rejected Cissé's on 3 September. [http://democratie.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/RAPPORT_DE_LA_MISSION_D_OBSERVATION_DES_ELECTIONS_PRESIDENTIELLES_ET_LEGISLATIVES_DES_17_OCTOBRE_ET_24_NOVEMBRE_1999_.pdf "Rapport de la Mission d’Observation des Élections Présidentielles et Législatives des 17 octobre et 24 novembre 1999"] , democratie.francophonie.org fr icon.] In the first round of the election, held on 17 October, Algabid placed fourth out of seven candidates, winning 10.83% of the vote. [http://africanelections.tripod.com/ne.html Elections in Niger] , African Elections Database.] On 6 November, Algabid announced his support for Mahamadou Issoufou, the candidate of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, in the second round; Issoufou was defeated by Tandja Mamadou of the National Movement for the Development of Society.

Algabid was also elected to the National Assembly in the 1999 parliamentary election, and during the parliamentary term that followed he served as Fourth Vice-President of the National Assembly [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040718042041/www.assemblee.ne/organes/buran.htm "Bureau de l'Assemblée nationale 2003"] , assemblee.ne (2004 archive page) fr icon.] as well as the Vice-President of the RDP Parliamentary Group. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040718233428/www.assemblee.ne/organes/grparl.htm "LISTE DES Députés PAR GROUPE PARLEMENTAIRE"] , National Assembly website (2004 archive page) fr icon.]

Algabid was re-elected as President of the RDP for another three-year term at a party congress on January 23 2001. On this occasion, he said that the RDP's "immediate objective" was "to secure the opening of an international commission of inquiry into the assassination of president Mainassara"."Niger: Rally for Democracy and Progress re-elects chairman", AFP, January 23, 2001.]

Algabid served as the African Union's (AU) special envoy for Darfur in 2004. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=50694 "SUDAN: African Union mediating talks on Darfur"] , IRIN, July 16, 2004.] Francis Kpatindé, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN26104etrebetoleb0 "Et rebelote"] , "Jeuneafrique.com", September 26, 2004 fr icon.] On September 11 2004 he was designated as the RDP candidate in the 2004 presidential election; however, he was largely absent from the country at the time due to his role as a mediator in Sudan. In the election, held on 16 November, Algabid finished last out of six candidates with 4.89% of the vote. On 21 November, the RDP announced its support for Tandja in the second round. [ [http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2004-11/23/content_49745.htm "Présidentielle au Niger: un quatrième parti, le RDP, soutient la candidature de Mamadou Tandja au second tour"] , "Xinhua", November 23, 2004 fr icon.]

Algabid is currently a member of the National Assembly, having been re-elected in the 2004 parliamentary election. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050213003401/http://www.assemblee.ne/groupes/groupes.htm Parliamentary groups in the National Assembly of Niger] fr icon.]

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