Who is Mahamadou Issoufou?

Mahamadou Issoufou is a Nigerien politician who served as the President of Niger from 2011 to 2021. He is a member of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya).

Issoufou was born in 1951 in Dandaji, Niger. He studied engineering at the University of Niamey and then worked as an engineer in the Nigerien civil service. He entered politics in the early 1980s and was elected to the National Assembly in 1989. He served as Prime Minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994.

In 1996, Issoufou founded the PNDS-Tarayya, which quickly became one of the main opposition parties in Niger. He was elected President of Niger in 2011, defeating the incumbent President, Mamadou Tandja.

Issoufou was re-elected to a second term in 2016. During his time in office, he oversaw a number of economic and political reforms, including the establishment of a new constitution, the promotion of women's rights, and the fight against terrorism.

Issoufou stepped down from the presidency in 2021, after completing his second term. He was succeeded by Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected President of Niger in the 2020-21 elections.

Issoufou is married and has six children. He is a Muslim.