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National Movement For The Development Of Society


The National Movement for the Development of Society - MNSD (1989-1991) / MNSD-NASSARA (1991-) (Mouvement National de la Société de Développement) is a political party in Niger. Founded under the military government of the 1974-1990 period, it is currently the ruling party of Niger, and the party of the president, Tandja Mamadou.

Under military rule


The MNSD was founded in 1989 by President Ali Saibou, as the only legal party in the country. However, by the end of 1990, the Saibou regime acquiesced to the demands of union and student demands to institute a multi-party democratic system.

Second Republic


In 1991, two factions emerged within the MNSD, one behind Tandja Mamadou (MNSD-NASSARA) and the other behind Moumouni Adamou Djermakoye, both of whom had been important figures in the regime of Seyni Kountché.Jibrin Ibrahim and Abdoulayi Niandou Souley, [http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=11625 "The rise to power of an opposition party: the MNSD in Niger Republic"], Unisa Press, Politeia, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1996.Myriam Gervais, "Niger: Regime Change, Economic Crisis, and Perpetuation of Privilege", in ''Political Reform in Francophone Africa'' (1997), ed. John F. Clark and David E. Gardinier, pages 100–104. At a party congress in March 1991, Saibou retained his position as President of the MNSD, but at another congress held in November 1991, Tandja was elected as MNSD President, while Hama Amadou was elected as its Secretary-General. Tandja's obtaining of the party leadership over Djermakoye marked a departure from the traditional dominance of the party by Djermakoye's Zarma (Djerma) ethnic group. Djermakoye split from the MNSD and formed his own party, the Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP).

Third Republic


Tandja was the MNSD candidate in the 1993 presidential election and received first place in the first round, but lost in the second round to Democratic and Social Convention (CDS) candidate Mahamane Ousmane; losing candidates from the first round, whose parties had formed the Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC) with the CDS, backed Ousmane. Although the MNSD won 29 seats in the February 1993 parliamentary election, more than any other party, it was in opposition after the election because the AFC parties held a majority of seats. However, the MNSD won the January 1995 parliamentary election, in alliance with the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), which had previously been hostile to the MNSD, and smaller parties; the MNSD itself again won 29 seats. Hama Amadou of the MNSD then became Prime Minister, in cohabitation with President Ousmane. The cohabitation was marked by sharp rivalry between Amadou and Ousmane, and in January 1996 the military, led by Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara, seized power.

Fourth Republic


Tandja ran unsuccessfully again in the July 1996 presidential election; he received third place with 15.65% of the vote, after Maïnassara and Ousmane.[http://africanelections.tripod.com/ne.html Elections in Niger], ''African Elections Database''. Along with other opposition parties, grouped together as the Front for the Restoration and Defense of Democracy, the MNSD boycotted the November 1996 parliamentary election.

Fifth Republic


Another coup in April 1999 led to new elections late in the year, and the MNSD won the presidential election, with Tandja as its candidate; he defeated Mahamadou Issoufou of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) in the second round, taking 59.89% of the vote., democratie.francophonie.org . The MNSD also won the most seats in the parliamentary election, taking 38 out of 83, and in alliance with the CDS it gained a parliamentary majority. Amadou became Prime Minister again.

President Tandja


As President, Tandja had to give up his position as party leader. Hamidou Sékou acted as interim leader[http://www.africatime.com/niger/nouvelle.asp?no_nouvelle=103200&no_categorie=1 "Les partis politiques nigériens, leurs leaders respectifs et les pratiques politiques inavouables"], ''La Roue de l'Histoire'' (africatime.com), February 24 – March 1, 2004 . until Hama Amadou, previously the party's secretary-general, was elected as President of the MNSD in December 2001.

2004 presidential election


In the presidential election of 16 November and 4 December 2004, Tandja won 40.7% of the vote in the first round and 65.5% in the second round, defeating Mahamadou Issoufou of the PNDS to win re-election.[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44576 "Tandja wins second term as president in historic first for country"], ''IRIN'', December 8, 2004. In the parliamentary election, held on 4 December 2004, the MNSD won 37.2% of the popular vote and 47 out of 113 seats.

2007 government fall, 2008 internal divisions


Amadou's government was defeated in a no-confidence vote on 31 May 2007, and in early June Seyni Oumarou, also a member of the MNSD, was appointed by Tandja as Amadou's successor.

Amadou was arrested for alleged embezzlement in June 2008. Serious tensions between supporters of Amadou, the MNSD President, and Tandja, the President of the Republic, subsequently developed, and supporters of the two sides traded accusations.

Party leadership


Currently Hama Amadou is the President of the MNSD and Habi Mahamadou Salissou is its Secretary-General.

National_Movement_for_the_Development_of_Society
Source: Wikipedia