Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine (born 1965) is a Nigerien politician and economist who has served as the prime minister of Niger since 2023. He was appointed prime minister by the Niger military junta on 8 August 2023,[1][2] and appointed finance minister on 10 August 2023.[3] He previously served as minister of the Economy and Finance from 2003 to 2010.[4]
Ali Lamine Zeine | |
---|---|
Prime Minister of Niger | |
Assumed office 8 August 2023 | |
President | Abdourahamane Tchiani |
Preceded by | Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou |
Minister of Finance | |
Assumed office 10 August 2023 | |
President | Abdourahamane Tchiani |
Prime Minister | Himself |
Preceded by | Ahmat Jidoud |
In office 24 October 2003 – 18 February 2010 | |
President | Mamadou Tandja |
Prime Minister | Hama Amadou Seyni Oumarou |
Preceded by | Ali Badjo Gamatie |
Succeeded by | Mamane Malam Annou |
Personal details | |
Born | Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine 1965 (age 58–59) Zinder, Niger |
Religion | Islam |
Biography
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2023) |
Ali Lamine Zeine was born in 1965 in Zinder and graduated from the Centre for Financial, Economic and Banking Studies in Marseille and Paris-I. He has worked as a resident representative of the African Development Bank in Chad, Ivory Coast and Gabon.[5]
After serving as Director of the Cabinet of President Mamadou Tandja,[6] Zeine was appointed to the government as Minister of the Economy and Finance on 24 October 2003.[7]
In 2009, a newspaper editor, Boussada Ben Ali, alleged that Zeine had stolen money that was part of an oil contract between Niger and China. Ben Ali was arrested on 23 January 2009 and on 6 February 2009 sentenced to three months in prison for disseminating false information .[8]
Tandja was ousted in a military coup on 18 February 2010 and his government was dissolved. As one of Tandja's key associates, Zeine was one of only three ministers who were not promptly released from house arrest in the days after the coup.[9] According to one of the junta leaders, Colonel Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, the ministers "still under surveillance" had held "very sensitive portfolios" and therefore it was necessary "to ensure their security". The MNSD called for the release of Zeine, Tandja, and the others.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ "La diplomatie "est la meilleure voie à suivre" au Niger, selon la Cédéao". 7 August 2023.
- ^ "Niger junta appoints transitional prime minister". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Officiel : voici la liste des membres du gouvernement de Transition". www.actuniger.com (in French). 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Photos des ministres - Ministère des Finances du NIGER". www.finances.gouv.ne.
- ^ "Niger : Ali Lamine Zeine nommé premier ministre par les putschistes, une émissaire américaine reconnaît des discussions « difficiles »". Le Monde.fr (in French). 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Cherif Ouazani, "Ali Lamine Zeine", Jeuneafrique.com, 7 November 2004 (in French).
- ^ "GOUVERNEMENTS DE LA TRANSITION DE TANDJA MAMADOU" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, official website of the Nigerien presidency (in French).
- ^ "Journalist Boussada Ben Ali convicted of "disseminating false information likely to disturb public order", sentenced to three month imprisonment". IFEX. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Niger coup leaders promise fresh elections", BBC News, 21 February 2010.
- ^ Vidjingninou, Fiacre; Hama, Boureima (24 February 2010). "Niger: la junte s'installe, appels à un retour rapide de la démocratie". La Presse via Agence France-Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Junta to run country until elections, promises new constitution". France 24 via Agence France-Presse. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- Ali Lamine Zeine : « Tous les revenus miniers sont réinvestis ». Marianne Meunier & Jean-Michel Meyer, Jeune Afrique. 22 May 2009.