Leaders of West Africa
Before learning about the leaders in West Africa, test yourself on the knowledge you do know and compare your answers to what you learn!
1. Who took presidency after their father passed away?
A. Goodluck Jonathon
B. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
C. Faure Gnassingbe
D. Idriss Deby
2. True or False: Goodluck Jonathon was a priest before he was named president.
3. Who was exiled from Chad?
A. Idriss Deby
B. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
C. Paul Biya
D. Ibrahim Keita
4. What was the name of the rebellion that Azaward trying to become independent from Mali?
A. Tulip Rebellion
B. Cedar Rebellion
C. Tuareg Rebellion
*Answers can be found at bottom of the page!
1. Who took presidency after their father passed away?
A. Goodluck Jonathon
B. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
C. Faure Gnassingbe
D. Idriss Deby
2. True or False: Goodluck Jonathon was a priest before he was named president.
3. Who was exiled from Chad?
A. Idriss Deby
B. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
C. Paul Biya
D. Ibrahim Keita
4. What was the name of the rebellion that Azaward trying to become independent from Mali?
A. Tulip Rebellion
B. Cedar Rebellion
C. Tuareg Rebellion
*Answers can be found at bottom of the page!
Goodluck Jonathon
President Umaru Yar'Adua was the current president of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. He won the presidency with 70% of the Nigerian presidential vote. In 2009, he went into the hospital and wasn't seen until May 5, 2010 at his funeral. Check out his obituary here to see how successful and significant this man was to Nigeria! Goodluck Jonathon was a low-key deputy until this tragic event occurred in March 2010, which was twelve hours after President Umaru Yar'Adua death. Traditionally, presidents of Nigeria alternate between north and south, but Goodluck Jonathon was the game changer! Goodluck Jonathon won his first election in 2011! You can check out his acceptance speech right here!!
President Umaru Yar'Adua was the current president of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. He won the presidency with 70% of the Nigerian presidential vote. In 2009, he went into the hospital and wasn't seen until May 5, 2010 at his funeral. Check out his obituary here to see how successful and significant this man was to Nigeria! Goodluck Jonathon was a low-key deputy until this tragic event occurred in March 2010, which was twelve hours after President Umaru Yar'Adua death. Traditionally, presidents of Nigeria alternate between north and south, but Goodluck Jonathon was the game changer! Goodluck Jonathon won his first election in 2011! You can check out his acceptance speech right here!!
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Alassane Ouattara
President Alassane Ouattara has been trying issues with ethic issues occurring in the Ivory Coast. With that being said, watch this short clip to learn about this situation and how Alassane Ouattara is handling this issue! |
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the first elected black female president AND Africa's first elected female head of state (bio). That's not it! She, also, has won the Nobel Peace Prize! To talk about dedication with their nation, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was exiled out of Liberia in 1980 due to Samuel Doe's military coup. In 1985, she came back to Liberia to talk about the military regime and was force to leave Liberia again. She comes back to Liberia and wins the presidential election in 2005! President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a huge advocate for fresh, clean water in Africa. Below are some quotes of how important clean water is to her:
"The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it. We have the commitment, we have the resourcefulness, and we have the strength of our people to share the dream across Africa of clean water for all" -Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the first elected black female president AND Africa's first elected female head of state (bio). That's not it! She, also, has won the Nobel Peace Prize! To talk about dedication with their nation, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was exiled out of Liberia in 1980 due to Samuel Doe's military coup. In 1985, she came back to Liberia to talk about the military regime and was force to leave Liberia again. She comes back to Liberia and wins the presidential election in 2005! President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a huge advocate for fresh, clean water in Africa. Below are some quotes of how important clean water is to her:
"The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it. We have the commitment, we have the resourcefulness, and we have the strength of our people to share the dream across Africa of clean water for all" -Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Faure Gnassingbe
President Faure Gnassingbe was born into politics. His father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, was President of Togo. President Faure Gnassingbe started early in the politics life at age thirty-six he became the minister of telecommunications, mines, and equipment. In 2002, a significant change occurred in politics in Togo because the president age limit changed from forty to thirty-five. With that being said, on February 2005 President Gnassingbe Eyadema died and Faure Gnassingbe was appointed successor of him by the military. The issue with this is it was in violation of Togo's constitution in 1992. Faure Gnassingbe decided to step down and ran for the democratic election. He officially became president on May 4, 2005. Also, he was reelected as president in 2010 (Brittannica). Some individuals don't know where Togo is, so look at the map below to see where Togo is compared to other countries! |
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
Before coming into power, Mali was going through some struggling times. In January 2012, there was the Tuareg Rebellion. The northern side of Mali, Azaward, was wanting independence from Mali and was headed by the Movement for the Liberation of Azaward (MNLA). Click on Tuarega Rebellion or MNLA to learn more about the Tuarega Rebellion and the Movement for the Liberation of Azaward!! President Ibrahim, however, became President of Mali on September 2013. President Keita right away addressed this issue right away, "I want to reconcile hearts and minds, restore true brotherhood between us so that all the different people can play their part harmoniously in the national symphony." -President Keita (BBC)
To read about more current events going on in Mali, currently human-trafficking is becoming an issue. Read this great article to learn even more about it!!
Inside Mali's human-trafficking Underworld in Gao by Alex Duval Smith
Before coming into power, Mali was going through some struggling times. In January 2012, there was the Tuareg Rebellion. The northern side of Mali, Azaward, was wanting independence from Mali and was headed by the Movement for the Liberation of Azaward (MNLA). Click on Tuarega Rebellion or MNLA to learn more about the Tuarega Rebellion and the Movement for the Liberation of Azaward!! President Ibrahim, however, became President of Mali on September 2013. President Keita right away addressed this issue right away, "I want to reconcile hearts and minds, restore true brotherhood between us so that all the different people can play their part harmoniously in the national symphony." -President Keita (BBC)
To read about more current events going on in Mali, currently human-trafficking is becoming an issue. Read this great article to learn even more about it!!
Inside Mali's human-trafficking Underworld in Gao by Alex Duval Smith
Idriss Deby Itno
Presiddent Idriss Deby Itno was born in 1952, but in the early 1970s he faced the civil war in Chad. Idriss Deby Itno followed a Hissene Habre as the rebellion occurred. Habre became president and Deby was made Commander in Chief of Chad. In April 1989, Deby fled to Sudan because Habre accused Deby of plotting to overthrow Hissene Habre. Deby retaliated by attacking Habre and taking control of N'Djamena, which is Chad's capital. After this, Deby came into power and decided to establish a new government of a multiparty democracy. This did not take into place until 1996 a constitution was written to form this new government power. CLICK ON "CONSTITUTION" TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS!! Since, then each reelection Deby has had boycotts against his reelection and has faced many coups and rebellion activity (britannica.com).
Presiddent Idriss Deby Itno was born in 1952, but in the early 1970s he faced the civil war in Chad. Idriss Deby Itno followed a Hissene Habre as the rebellion occurred. Habre became president and Deby was made Commander in Chief of Chad. In April 1989, Deby fled to Sudan because Habre accused Deby of plotting to overthrow Hissene Habre. Deby retaliated by attacking Habre and taking control of N'Djamena, which is Chad's capital. After this, Deby came into power and decided to establish a new government of a multiparty democracy. This did not take into place until 1996 a constitution was written to form this new government power. CLICK ON "CONSTITUTION" TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS!! Since, then each reelection Deby has had boycotts against his reelection and has faced many coups and rebellion activity (britannica.com).
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Mahamadou Issoufou
Mahamadou Issoufou is the current President of Niger since April 7, 2011. Before this occurred, Mahamadou Issoufou didn't receive the outright majority of votes on the first round of balloting in 2011. With this happening, President Issoufou was the first civilian president of Niger since the military coup. To honor the peace agreements set after this, President Issoufou assigned Brigi Rafini as the prime minister (britannica). To learn more information about President Mahamadou Issoufou and Brigi Rafini click on their names! Watch the video to learn about the issues in Niger with the water concern! |
Paul Biya
Paul Biya was wanting to become a priest in his early life. Instead of becoming a priest, Paul Biya decided to take his talents to study law and political science. Paul Biya was named as the prime minister by Ahmadou Ahidjo. In 1982, Paul Biya was named President of Cameroon and hasn't let go since. Paul Biya is known as the "Lion Man" (Sa'ah, R.). Since becoming president, Paul Biya is known for placing anyone, who could be potentially challenge his presidency. The video will show many characteristics of Paul Biya and the issues in Cameroon. Watch the great video to learn so much more!! |
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Below are the answers from the questions above!
1. C.
2. False
3. A.
4. C.
1. C.
2. False
3. A.
4. C.
Citation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0som2Fs8BDA
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/10031/Ahmadou-Ahidjo
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-20219549
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13146032
https://www.prc.cm/en/
http://www.france24.com/en/20130511-interview-mahmadou-issoufou-president-of-niger-mali-menaka-attack/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigi_Rafini
https://news.vice.com/topic/brigi-rafini
http://thinkafricapress.com/nigers-new-leader-names-brigi-rafini-prime-minister
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1777980/Mahamadou-Issoufou
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahamadou_Issoufou
http://www.irinnews.org/report/58775/chad-idriss-deby-a-president-under-siege
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Chad_2005.pdf
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1068694/Hissene-Habre
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32359142
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/752468/Idriss-Deby
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/02/20122188513342701.html
http://www.trackingterrorism.org/group/national-movement-liberation-azawad-mnla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Boubacar_Ke%C3%AFta
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/199240/Gnassingbe-Eyadema
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/ellen_johnson_sirleaf.html
http://www.biography.com/people/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-201269#synopsis
https://www.imf.org/external/np/omd/bios/Ado.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1304117/Umaru-Musa-YarAdua
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0som2Fs8BDA
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/10031/Ahmadou-Ahidjo
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-20219549
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13146032
https://www.prc.cm/en/
http://www.france24.com/en/20130511-interview-mahmadou-issoufou-president-of-niger-mali-menaka-attack/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigi_Rafini
https://news.vice.com/topic/brigi-rafini
http://thinkafricapress.com/nigers-new-leader-names-brigi-rafini-prime-minister
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1777980/Mahamadou-Issoufou
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahamadou_Issoufou
http://www.irinnews.org/report/58775/chad-idriss-deby-a-president-under-siege
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Chad_2005.pdf
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1068694/Hissene-Habre
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32359142
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/752468/Idriss-Deby
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/02/20122188513342701.html
http://www.trackingterrorism.org/group/national-movement-liberation-azawad-mnla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Boubacar_Ke%C3%AFta
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/199240/Gnassingbe-Eyadema
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/ellen_johnson_sirleaf.html
http://www.biography.com/people/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-201269#synopsis
https://www.imf.org/external/np/omd/bios/Ado.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1304117/Umaru-Musa-YarAdua