Diori, Hamani

Born June 16, 1916, in Soudouré, Niger. Statesman of Niger.

Diori by training and profession is a teacher. He was one of the founders of the Niger Progressive Party in 1946. From 1946 to 1951 and from 1956 to 1959 he was a deputy to the French National Assembly from Niger, and from 1957 to 1959 he was its vice-chairman. In 1951 he became secretary general of the Niger Progressive Party. In December 1958 he headed the government of autonomous Niger; from 1960 to 1974 he was president and head of the government of independent Niger.