# Ousmane Dissolves the Assembly (October 1994)

URL: https://allhistories.com/niger/timeline/1994-ousmane-dissolves-the-assembly
Location: Niamey, Niger
Themes: main-event

In 1994 the coalition behind Mahamane Ousmane collapsed, leaving the president without a majority in the National Assembly. In October he dissolved the assembly and called early legislative elections. The coalition's break-up followed disputes over ministerial posts and economic policy after the devaluation of January. The president's own party, the CDS, lost its partners, including the PNDS led by Mahamadou Issoufou. Wikipedia notes that the MNSD won the most seats in the following legislative elections, held in January 1995. Ousmane then had to name Hama Amadou of the MNSD as prime minister, creating a cohabitation between a president and a hostile majority. The deadlock between the two men paralysed the government and the state for most of 1995. The constitution allowed the president to dissolve the assembly, and he used that power. At the date of this event the principal authority over the largest part of present-day Niger, by the convention of this dataset, lay with Mahamane Ousmane, President of the Republic (1993–1996). The government was headed by Prime Minister Souley Abdoulaye. The 1994 split showed the weak party system and the dangers of the semi-presidential constitution, a theme returned to in 1996. The episode also helps to explain public fatigue with party politics, and why a large part of the population greeted the military takeover of January 1996 with indifference or relief.

## Why it matters
A broken coalition left the president without a majority.

Ruler at the Time: [Mahamane Ousmane](https://allhistories.com/niger/rulers/mahamane-ousmane)

Prime Minister: Souley Abdoulaye

## Sources
- [Mahamane Ousmane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahamane_Ousmane)
- [Hama Amadou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hama_Amadou)
- [History of Niger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Niger)