{{short description|Prime Minister of Niger (2011–2021)}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Brigi Rafini | image = Brigi Rafini - June 2012 (cropped).jpg | caption = Brigi Rafini in 2012 | office = Prime Minister of Niger | president = Mahamadou Issoufou | term_start = 7 April 2011 | term_end = 2 April 2021 | predecessor = Mahamadou Danda | successor = Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|3|29|df=y}} | birth_place = Iferouane, French West Africa<br />{{small|(now Niger)}} | death_date = | death_place = | party = Nigerien Party for Democracy<br />and Socialism | alma_mater = National School of<br />Administration, Niamey<br />National School of Administration, Strasbourg }} '''Brigi Rafini''' (born 29 March 1953) is a politician in Niger who served as the Prime Minister of Niger from 2011 to 2021. A native of Iférouane in Agadez Region and an ethnic Tuareg,<ref name='sahel2011leprem'>[http://www.lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7040:le-premier-ministre-m-brigi-rafini--un-homme-dune-grande-experience-politique-a-la-tete-du-gouvernement&catid=34:actualites&Itemid=53 Le Premier ministre, M Brigi Rafini : un homme d'une grande expérience politique à la tête du gouvernement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007110555/http://www.lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7040%3Ale-premier-ministre-m-brigi-rafini--un-homme-dune-grande-experience-politique-a-la-tete-du-gouvernement&catid=34%3Aactualites&Itemid=53 |date=October 7, 2011 }}. Oumarou Moussa, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2011-04-11.</ref> Rafini was Minister of Agriculture in the late 1980s and Fourth Vice-President of the National Assembly of Niger from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed as prime minister after Mahamadou Issoufou took office as president on 7 April 2011. He is also notably the first Tuareg in office.<ref name='reut20010408'>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110409110022/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE73703020110408 Niger's new leader names Brigi Rafini prime minister, Reuters] 2011-04-11.</ref><ref name='afp20110408'>[https://archive.today/20121209052044/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jtsDe3xVmsH-flMdqq1lIvwhgrEg?docId=CNG.8d00429b889e9bb8fbb49b947c2102b1.8d1 AFP: Niger's new president appoints Tuareg as prime minister] 2011-04-11.</ref><ref name='apa201104'>[http://www.afriqueavenir.org/2011/04/07/brigi-rafini-un-ancien-administrateur-civil-nomme-premier-ministre-du-niger/ Brigi Rafini, un ancien administrateur civil nommé Premier ministre du Niger] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903105316/http://www.afriqueavenir.org/2011/04/07/brigi-rafini-un-ancien-administrateur-civil-nomme-premier-ministre-du-niger/ |date=September 3, 2011 }}, African Press Agency, 2011-04-08.</ref><ref name='ap200707'>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Niger+rebels+release+6+more+government+soldiers-a01611379839 Niger rebels release 6 more government soldiers] - AP 2007-08-05</ref><ref name='reut20070804'>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305220504/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL0433125320070804 France sees Areva progress, offers Niger mine aid] Reuters 2007-08-04</ref><ref name='poten200708'>[http://www.lepotentiel.com/afficher_article.php?id_edition=&id_article=49975 Niger : libération d’une partie de militaires pris en otage par le MNJ] Le Potentiale (Kinshahsa), 2007-08-07</ref><ref name='gof2008'>[http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/international/cooperation-afrique.asp Visite d’étude de trois députés et deux fonctionnaires de l’Assemblée nationale du Niger 30 juin au 4 juillet 2008] Assemblée nationale - Coopération interparlementaire - XIII° législature, French National Assembly, July 2008.</ref><ref name='sahel200904'>[http://www.lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1517:m-brigi-rafini-4eme-vice-president-de-lassemblee-nationale-et-maire-de-la-commune-rurale-diferouane&catid=46:invite&Itemid=60 M. Brigi Rafini, 4ème vice-président de l'Assemblée nationale et maire de la Commune rurale d'Iférouane] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927230113/http://www.lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1517%3Am-brigi-rafini-4eme-vice-president-de-lassemblee-nationale-et-maire-de-la-commune-rurale-diferouane&catid=46%3Ainvite&Itemid=60 |date=September 27, 2011 }}. Assane Soumana, Le Sahel (Niamey), 2009-04-03.</ref><ref name='ipu2009'>[http://www.ipu.org/hr-e/186/Rn02.htm Human rights of parliamentarians: 186th Governing Council session] International Parliamentary Union report on Niger, 2009.</ref>
==Career== Brigi Rafini was born in 1953 in Iférouane in the Agadez Region, part of the Colony of Niger in French West Africa. He attended primary and secondary school in Iférouane and Agadez. From 1971 to 1974, he attended the National School of Administration (ENA) in Niamey, returning for advanced study from 1978 to 1981.<ref name='sahel2011leprem' /><ref name='afp20110414'>[https://archive.today/20130103093413/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h4sfVuRNZHkqg26-oHqssUAt--Mw?docId=CNG.4d0b7ae2bbeb6f14a4c93df238d9cb0c.971 Niger: Brigi Rafini, un Touareg énarque à la tête du gouvernement]. Boureima Hama, AFP, 2011-04-14.</ref> In 1983, he spent a year at the French International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP) in Paris. He returned to Paris a decade later, to the French National School of Administration (ENA) from 1994 to 1995.<ref name='sahel2011leprem' /><ref name='afp20110414' />
==Political affiliation== As an experienced civil administrator, minister and political office holder, Rafini has represented four different political parties since the 1980s. He was a member of the National Movement for the Development of Society (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 (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 (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 (PNDS), elected to power in 2011.<ref name='apa201104'/><ref name='20110408nd'>[http://www.nigerdiaspora.info/politique/6840-les-4-premiers-decrets-de-la-7eme-republique-mahamadou-issoufou-signe-3-decrets-de-nomination-et-1-de-convocation-de-llassemblee-nationale Les 4 premiers décrets de la 7ème République : Mahamadou Issoufou signe 3 décrets de nomination et 1 de convocation de l'Assemblée nationale] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007093828/http://www.nigerdiaspora.info/politique/6840-les-4-premiers-decrets-de-la-7eme-republique-mahamadou-issoufou-signe-3-decrets-de-nomination-et-1-de-convocation-de-llassemblee-nationale |date=October 7, 2011 }}. Mahamadou Diallo, Niger Diaspora. 2011-04-08.</ref>
==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.<ref>[https://archive.today/20121209053120/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hrUZ25C1HS80AY3U2sLrLWEVaXMg?docId=CNG.3c64af4b2c0bdbe339ac666532a976d8.231 "Niger unveils new government"], AFP, 21 April 2011.</ref> On 2 April 2016, when Issoufou was sworn in for a second term, he reappointed Brigi Rafini as Prime Minister.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-election-idUSKCN0WZ0S7 "Niger ministers resign after presidential inauguration: radio"], Reuters, 2 April 2016.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Mahamadou Danda}} {{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Niger|years=2011–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou}} {{s-end}} {{Prime ministers of Niger}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafini, Brigi}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the National Assembly (Niger) Category:Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism politicians Category:Prime ministers of Niger Category:Nigerien Berbers Category:People from Agadez Region Category:Tuareg people Category:21st-century Nigerien politicians Category:20th-century Berber people Category:21st-century Berber people