Political career
Danda began working under the regime of Seyni Kountché in the 1970s; [2] he was Sub-Prefect of Niamey in 1979 and 1980 and Sub-Prefect of Filingué from 1983 to 1987. [3] Following Kountché's death,he was appointed to the government by Ali Saibou on 20 November 1987,serving as Minister for Animal Resources and Hydraulics [4] until 15 July 1988,when he was dropped from the government. [5] Subsequently he was Administrative Secretary of the National Executive Bureau of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) [1] [6] in the early 1990s. [6] Danda also served as Permanent Secretary of the Higher Council of National Orientation for a time. [2]
Multiparty elections were held in Niger in 1993. Danda was Chief Technical Adviser to the Prime Minister for Institutional Issues from 23 December 1997 to 16 April 1999. [3]
Following the April 1999 coup d'état,Danda,who was considered a representative of civil society, [7] was appointed by the transitional junta as Minister of Communication,Culture,Youth,and Sports,as well as Government Spokesman,on 16 April 1999. [7] [8] He remained in his post as Minister of Communication until the military handed power to an elected government in December 1999. [1] [9]
2010 events
Danda,who has studied in Canada,held the post of Political Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy to Niger (as locally-engaged staff) when President Mamadou Tandja was overthrown in another coup on 18 February 2010. [2] [3] [10] Salou Djibo,the President of the CSRD,then appointed Danda as Prime Minister on 23 February; [9] [10] [11] however,Danda was not assigned the role of head of government,which was assumed by Djibo in addition to his role as head of state. [11]
Danda,who was not a member of any political party,was perceived as a neutral figure. That quality,in addition to his experience,was generally viewed as the reason for his appointment as Prime Minister. [2] Upon his appointment,Danda said that he had "asked for the necessary guarantees to be sure of committing myself in the process leading to a real restoration of democracy". [12] On 1 March 2010,Djibo appointed a transitional government composed of 20 ministers. Five portfolios were assigned to military officers,three of whom (including the Minister of Defense) were generals associated with Tandja. [13]
While Tandja's government consistently sought to downplay the problem of famine and hunger—to the point that it was considered "an almost taboo subject"—the CSRD quickly demonstrated a different approach. On 10 March,Danda issued "an emergency appeal" to the international community for aid. According to Danda,58% of the population could be affected by lack of food;under Tandja,the number had been placed much lower,at about 20%. Danda discussed the government's plans for emergency relief,and the United Nations and European Union both promised assistance. [14]
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