Mohamed Bazoum

Mohamed Bazoum, born in 1960, is a prominent Nigerien politician who made history as the first Arab president of Niger. He served as the 10th president from April 2021 until his ousting in 2023 during a coup d'état led by members of the presidential guard and armed forces.

Before ascending to the presidency, Bazoum was an influential figure in Niger's political landscape. He held the position of president of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya) and served as the minister of Foreign Affairs on two occasions, from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2011 to 2016. His political career also included a brief tenure as minister of State at the Presidency in 2016, followed by a role as minister of State for the Interior until he resigned to focus on his presidential campaign.

In the 2020–21 presidential election, Bazoum emerged victorious in the second round, securing fifty-five point sixty-seven percent of the vote against former president Mahamane Ousmane. His election marked a significant moment in Niger's history, reflecting a shift towards democratic governance.

As a member of the Arab minority Ouled Slimane people, Bazoum's presidency was a landmark achievement for representation in Niger. His leadership journey, however, was abruptly interrupted by the coup in 2023, which reshaped the political landscape of the nation.