11 Facts About Souley Abdoulaye

Souley Abdoulaye served as the prime minister of Niger from 28 September 1994 to 8 February 1995.

Souley Abdoulaye later served in the government under President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara as Minister of Transport from 1996 to 1997 and then as Minister of the Interior, in charge of police and internal security, from 1997 to 1999.

Souley Abdoulaye was considered close to Ousmane, serving as his campaign manager and as the treasurer of the CDS.

Souley Abdoulaye was promptly reappointed as prime minister by Ousmane on 17 October, but as a result of the no-confidence vote, Ousmane had to call a new parliamentary election, which was held in January 1995.

On 23 August 1996, Souley Abdoulaye was named Minister of Transport in a government headed by Prime Minister Boukary Adji and appointed by President Mainassara.

Souley Abdoulaye was widely criticized when, on 20 August 1998, he had Bory Seyni, the editor of Le Democrate independent paper, arrested, following the paper's accusation that the Interior Minister had benefited from the sale of government wheat supplies.

Souley Abdoulaye had previously garnered international attention by accusing the governments of the United States, Denmark and Canada of plotting with opposition parties.

When Mainassara, who had come to power in a 1996 military coup, was assassinated by the army on 9 April 1999, Souley Abdoulaye lost his position in the government and found himself in the political wilderness.

All of Mainassara's ministers, Souley Abdoulaye included, were banned from leaving Niamey and were to be investigated for crimes under the previous regime.

Souley Abdoulaye was briefly arrested in May 1999, but released without charge.

Souley Abdoulaye was again released without charge, but did not return to the National Assembly in the 1999 or 2004 elections.