Mohamed Akotey | |
|---|---|
| Born | ~1967 Tidene, Niger |
| Education | University of Niamey Sorbonne University |
| Occupations | Leader of Temoust Liberation Front (1995) Minister of Environment of Niger (2007) Chairman of board of directors of Imouraren SA (2008-?) |
| Relatives | Mano Dayak (uncle) |
Mohamed Akotey is a Nigerien politician of Ifoghas Tuareg heritage and former rebel leader.
Akotey was born around 1967 in the village of Tidene, just north of Agadez. [1] He studied geography in Niamey, and later left to study archaeology at Sorbonne University. [2]
On December 15, 1995, his uncle Mano Dayak, the head of Temoust Liberation Front, died in a plane accident during the Tuareg rebellion. [1] Akotey was urged by his family to lead the Coordination of Armed Resistance, a coalition of anti-government Tuareg groups led by Dayak that included the TLF. [1] Unlike Dayak, however, Akotey joined government negotiations and made amends with Rhissa Ag Boula, another Tuareg leader who had a rivalry with Dayak. [1]
Akotey was appointed Nigerien Minister of the Environment and Fight Against Desertification in 2007 by Mamadou Tandja. [3]
In 2008, Akotey resigned from his post to become chairman of the board of directors of Imouraren SA, which controlled the Imouraren mine. [1] In 2010, Salou Djibo entrusted Akotey with securing the release of the Arlit hostages kidnapped on September 16, 2010. [1] This role continued under the Issoufou administration. Akotey helped release the hostages on October 27, 2013, after mediating with jihadist leader Ibrahim Ag Inawalen. [4] After the release of the Arlit hostages, Akotey negotiated the release of Serge Lazarevic, who was kidnapped in Mali in 2012. [2]