Brigi Rafini (born 7 April 1953) is a

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesPrime Minister of Niger from 2011 to 2021. A native of Iférouane in

Agadez Region Agadez Region is one of the seven regions of Niger. At , it covers more than half of Niger's land area, and is the largest region in the country, as well as the largest African state subdivision. The capital of the department is Agadez. Histo ...

and an ethnic

Tuareg The Tuareg people (; also spelled Twareg or Touareg; endonym: ''Imuhaɣ/Imušaɣ/Imašeɣăn/Imajeɣăn'') are a large Berber ethnic group that principally inhabit the Sahara in a vast area stretching from far southwestern Libya to southern Alg ...

,Le Premier ministre, M Brigi Rafini : un homme d'une grande expérience politique à la tête du gouvernement
. Oumarou Moussa, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2011-04-11. Rafini was Minister of Agriculture in the late 1980s and Fourth Vice-President of the

National Assembly of Niger The unicameral National Assembly (''Assemblée nationale'') is Niger's legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation. History The National Assembly was established through reforms of the Col ...

from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed as

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

after

Mahamadou Issoufou Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1 January 1952) is a Nigerien politician who served as the President of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Issoufou was the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, president of the National Assembly from 1995 t ...

took office as

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

on 7 April 2011. He is also notably the first

in office.Niger's new leader names Brigi Rafini prime minister, Reuters
2011-04-11.AFP: Niger's new president appoints Tuareg as prime minister
2011-04-11.Niger rebels release 6 more government soldiers
- AP 2007-08-05Niger : libération d’une partie de militaires pris en otage par le MNJ
Le Potentiale (Kinshahsa), 2007-08-07M. Brigi Rafini, 4ème vice-président de l'Assemblée nationale et maire de la Commune rurale d'Iférouane
. Assane Soumana, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2009-04-03.

, part of the

Colony of Niger The Colony of Niger () was a French colonial possession covering much of the territory of the modern West African state of Niger, as well as portions of Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad. It existed in various forms from 1900 to 1960 but was titled the ...

in French West Africa. He attended primary and secondary school in Iférouane and

Agadez Agadez ( Air Tamajeq: ⴰⴶⴰⴷⴰⵣ, ''Agadaz''), formerly spelled Agadès, is the fifth largest city in Niger, with a population of 110,497 based on the 2012 census. The capital of Agadez Region, it lies in the Sahara desert, and is also ...

. From 1971 to 1974, he attended the National School of Administration (ENA) in

Niamey Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2012 census. As of 2017, population projections show the capital dis ...

, returning for advanced study from 1978 to 1981.

Political affiliation

Brigi Rafini, as a civil administrator, minister, and office holder, has represented four different political parties since the 1980s. He was a member of the

National Movement for the Development of Society The National Movement for the Development of Society (french: Mouvement National pour la Société du Développement, MNSD-Nassara) is a political party in Niger. Founded under the military government of the 1974–1990 period, it was the ruling ...

(MNSD) during the time it was the unitary party (1989–1991), left to join the breakaway faction that became the

Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress The Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress (french: Alliance nigérienne pour la démocratie et le progrès, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya) is a political party in Niger. Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye led the party from its foundation in 1992 until his ...

(ANDP) during the democratic Third Republic (1993–1996), and helped form the ruling Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP-Jama'a) party during the presidency of

Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara General Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara (May 9, 1949 – April 9, 1999) was a military officer and diplomat in Niger who ruled the country from his seizure of power in 1996 until his assassination during the military coup of April 1999. Baré Maïn ...

(1996–1999). He served as a parliamentarian and assembly officer under the RDP in opposition during the Fifth Republic (1999–2009). He has since been reported to have formally joined the

Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (french: Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme, PNDS-Tarayya) is a political party in Niger. It is a broadly left-leaning party, part of the Socialist International, and since 2011 it ...

(PNDS), elected to power in 2011.Les 4 premiers décrets de la 7ème République : Mahamadou Issoufou signe 3 décrets de nomination et 1 de convocation de l'Assemblée nationale
. Mahamadou Diallo, Niger Diaspora. 2011-04-08.

Prime Minister

When Mahamadou Issoufou, who won the January–March 2011 presidential election, took office as President on 7 April 2011, he promptly appointed Rafini as Prime Minister. The 23-member government headed by Rafini was appointed on 21 April 2011. On 2 April 2016, when Issoufou was sworn in for his second term, he reappointed Brigi Rafini as Prime Minister."Niger ministers resign after presidential inauguration: radio"
Reuters, 2 April 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafini, Brigi 1953 births Living people Members of the National Assembly (Niger) Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism politicians Prime Ministers of Niger Berber Nigeriens People from Agadez Region Tuareg people