Amadou Toumani Touré

Amadou Toumani Touré (4 November 1948 – 9 November 2020) was a Malian politician. He supervised Mali's first multiparty elections as chairman of the transitional government (1991–1992), and later became the second democratically-elected President of Mali (2002–2012).

Amadou Toumani Touré
3rd President of Mali
In office
8 June 2002 – 22 March 2012
Prime MinisterAhmed Mohamed ag Hamani
Ousmane Issoufi Maïga
Modibo Sidibé
Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé
Preceded byAlpha Oumar Konaré
Succeeded byAmadou Sanogo (Chairperson of the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State)
In office
26 March 1991 – 8 June 1992
Prime MinisterSoumana Sacko
Preceded byMoussa Traoré
Succeeded byAlpha Oumar Konaré
Personal details
Born(1948-11-04)4 November 1948
Mopti, French Sudan
(now Mali)
Died9 November 2020(2020-11-09) (aged 72)
Istanbul, Turkey
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Lobbo Traore
Military service
Branch/serviceArmy
Years of service1969–2001
RankArmy general

Touré was head of President Moussa Traoré's personal guard (and parachute regiment) when a popular revolution overthrew the regime in March 1991; Colonel Touré then arrested the President and led the revolution onward. He presided over a year-long military-civilian transition process that produced a new Constitution and multiparty elections, then handed power to Mali's first democratically-elected president, Alpha Oumar Konaré, on 6 June 1992. Konaré promoted Touré to the rank of General.

Ten years later, after retiring from the army, Touré entered politics as a civilian and won the 2002 presidential election with a broad coalition of support. He was easily re-elected in 2007 to a second and final term. On 22 March 2012, shortly before his scheduled departure from office, disgruntled soldiers initiated a coup d'état that forced him into hiding.[1] As part of the agreement to restore constitutional order to Mali, Touré resigned from the presidency on 8 April, and eleven days later he went into exile.

Early life

Amadou Toumani Touré was born on 4 November 1948, in Mopti, where he attended primary school. Between 1966 and 1969, he attended Badalabougou Standard Secondary School in Bamako in order to become a teacher. Eventually, he joined the army and attended the Kati Inter-Military College. As a member of the Parachute Corps, he rose quickly through the ranks and after numerous training courses in the Soviet Union and France, he became the commander of the parachute commandos in 1984.[2]

Political and military career
Amadou Touré with President Lula da Silva and government ministers of Brazil.

In March 1991, after the violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations turned into a popular revolution against 23 years of military rule, the armed forces refused to fire any longer on the Malian people and Touré – head of the presidential guard – arrested President Moussa Traoré.[3] Known universally by his initials ATT, Colonel Touré (as he then was) became leader of the Transitional Committee for the Welfare of the People and acting head of state throughout the committee's efforts to transition the country's government to democracy.[4] He presided over the national conference that between 29 July and 13 August 1991 drew up the Constitution of Mali and scheduled the legislative and presidential elections of 1992. After the results of the elections became known, Touré handed over power to the newly elected president, Alpha Oumar Konaré.[5] Following his voluntary departure from office, he gained the nickname "The Soldier of Democracy."[6]

In June 2001, Touré served briefly as a special envoy of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the Central African Republic, after the failed coup attempt that had occurred there.[7]

In September 2001, he requested and was granted retirement from the military, entering politics as a candidate in the 2002 presidential election. In the first round of voting, he placed first with 28.71% of the vote,[8] while in the second round he won 64.35% of the vote, defeating the ADEMA candidate, former cabinet minister Soumaïla Cissé, who obtained 35.65%.[9] Touré was sworn in on 8 June 2002.[10]

His presidency was atypical, in part due to the fact that he was not a member of any political party and that he included members from all of the country's political parties in his government.[11] Following his 2002 election, he appointed Ahmed Mohamed ag Hamani as Prime Minister, but on 28 April 2004, Hamani was replaced by Ousmane Issoufi Maiga, who in turn was replaced on 28 September 2007 by Modibo Sidibé.[12]

Touré meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush

Touré announced on 27 March 2007, that he would run for a second term in the April 2007 presidential election.[13] According to final results announced on 12 May, Touré won the election with 71.20% of the votes. The main opposition candidate, National Assembly President Ibrahima Boubacar Keïta, won 19.15%;[14] the Front for Democracy and the Republic, a coalition including Keïta and three other candidates, rejected the official results.[15] Foreign observers, however, endorsed the election as free and fair.[16] Touré was sworn in for his second term as president on 8 June 2007,[10] at a ceremony attended by seven other African presidents.[17]

In addition to improving Mali's infrastructure, Touré established the first national medical insurance system.[7]

Conforming to the constitution of Mali, which has a two-term presidential limit, Touré confirmed at a press conference on 12 June 2011, that he would not stand in the 2012 presidential election.[18]

2012 coup d'état
Main article: 2012 Malian coup d'état

Early in 2012, elements of the Malian military protested the Touré government's handling of the 2012 insurgency in northern Mali. The brutal massacre in Aguel Hoc (frontier with Niger) of more than 80 Malian soldiers led to unrest in the army, with soldiers and army wives accusing President Touré of mismanagement because of ammunition shortages. On 21 March, soldiers at a barracks in Kati, near Bamako, launched a revolt against the visiting defense minister, and their revolt turned into a coup d'État.[19] A group of sergeants and corporals seized several locations in Bamako, including the presidential palace, state television headquarters, and some military barracks. They then formed a provisional governmental authority, the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDRE), under the leadership of Captain Amadou Sanogo, and declared that they had overthrown Touré, accusing his government of incompetence. President Touré was not taken into custody by the rebels.[20][21]

For more than two weeks Touré's whereabouts were unknown and CNRDRE never indicated that he was in its custody. The CNRDRE did, however, state that Touré was in "good health"[22] and a statement from the Nigerian government, though supportive of Touré, claimed that he had been "detained" by the mutineers.[23] According to soldiers loyal to Touré, however, he was safe, and guarded by pro-government military forces at a barracks somewhere outside of Bamako.[21]

On 3 April, the junta announced that it was considering charges of treason and financial misconduct against Touré.[24]

On 8 April, Touré reemerged to announce his resignation in accordance with an agreement brokered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to return Mali to constitutional rule,[25] telling ECOWAS mediators, "More than anything, I do it out of the love I have for my country".[26] On 19 April, Touré went into exile in neighboring Senegal.[27]

Amadou Toumani Touré returned to Mali after five years, on 24 December 2017.[28]

Other work

In 1993, Touré founded Fondation pour l'enfance, a children's health foundation. During his presidency, the foundation was managed by First Lady Toure Lobbo Traore.[29]

Touré was a member of the Earth Charter International Commission.[30]

Personal life

Touré was married to Touré Lobbo Traoré. They had three daughters.[7] He died in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9 November 2020,[31] a week after his 72nd birthday.[7]

Honours

References
  1. Lewis, David; Diallo, Tiemoko (22 March 2012). "Soldiers say they have seized power in Mali". Reuters. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. Diawara, Malick (10 November 2020). "Mali : l'ex-président Amadou Toumani Touré n'est plus". Le Point (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. "Mali: Former president Moussa Traoré dead at age 83". The Africa Report. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. "The Sahel falls apart". Centre Tricontinental. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  5. "Mali former president Amadou Toumani Toure dies aged 72". MIA.mk. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. "Mali country profile". BBC News. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. Peltier, Elian (10 November 2020). "Amadou Toumani Touré, Former Malian President, Dies at 72". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. "1er tour de l'élection présidentielle au Mali : Verdict de la Cour Constitutionnelle". L'Essor (in French). 9 May 2002 – via essor.gov.ml.
  9. "Elections in Mali". africanelections.tripod.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  10. "24. Mali (1960-present)". uca.edu. University of Central Arkansas. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  11. "Mali 2.0". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  12. "Mali". .worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  13. "Malian President announces his candidacy for next elections". apanews.net. African Press Agency. 27 March 2007.
  14. "Présidentielle au Mali: la Cour constitutionnelle valide la réélection de Touré" [Mali President — the Constitutional Court validates the re-election of Touré]. jeuneafrique.com (in French). AFP. 12 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  15. "Mali: l'opposition conteste la présidentielle sans attendre les résultats" [Mali: the opposition challenges the presidential election without waiting for the results]. Jeuneafrique.com (in French). 1 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007..
  16. Tattersall, Nick (1 May 2007). "Toure camp claims election win". iol.co.za. IOL. Reuters.
  17. "Re-elected Malian president sworn-in, 7 peers attend ceremony". apanews.net. African Press Agency. 8 June 2007.
  18. Balé, Zénith. "ATT face à la presse : Anniversaire d'investiture, l'heure du bilan | maliweb.net" (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  19. "Mali soldiers loot presidential palace after coup". BBC News. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  20. "Soldiers overthrow government in Mali". Associated Press. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  21. "France suspends co operation with Mali after coup topples Amadou Toumani Touré". rfi.fr. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  22. Ahmed, Baba (22 March 2012). "Mali coup leader: Ex-president in 'good health'". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  23. Ojeme, Victoria (22 March 2012). "FG orders Malian coupists to restore democracy immediately". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  24. "Mali's junta 'may charge' President Toure with treason". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  25. "Mali's President, Ousted in Coup, Steps Down". The New York Times. Associated Press. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  26. "Mali awaits next step after president, coup leader resign". The Daily Star. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  27. "Mali's ex-leader Amadou Toumani Toure flees to Senegal". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  28. "Former Malian president Toure returns from exile". Africanews. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  29. "Fondation pour l'enfance sous le leadership d'ATT : De nouveaux défis à relever pour le plus grand bonheur des couches défavorisées Un plan d'actions 2020-2023 bientôt dévoilé" [Foundation for Children under the leadership of ATT: New challenges to be met to the delight of disadvantaged groups A 2020-2023 action plan to be unveiled soon]. Bamada.net (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  30. "History". EarthCharter.org. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  31. "Mali's ex-President Amadou Toumani Toure dies aged 72". New York Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  32. L'Informateur (11 November 2020). "Avec la disparition du président ATT : Le Mali pleure un digne fils" [With the disappearance of President ATT: Mali mourns a worthy son]. maliweb.net (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  33. "Bundeskanzler: Anfragebeantwortung" [Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour] (PDF). parlament.gv.at (in German). p. 1,923. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  34. "Agency photo". tomwag.com. November 2005. at State visit
  35. "N° 8056 du VENDREDI 17 FÉVRIER 2012 * Ordonnance Souveraine n° 3.668 du 13 février 2012 portant élévation dans l'Ordre". legimonaco.mc (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  36. "Ethique et Solidarité". fondationkebambaye.org (in French). Fondation Kéba Mbaye. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Moussa Traoré		 President of Mali
1991–1992		 Succeeded by
Alpha Oumar Konaré
Preceded by
Alpha Oumar Konaré		 President of Mali
2002–2012		 Succeeded by
Amadou Sanogo
as Chairperson of the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State of Mali
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