President Hamani Diori

Diori was trained as a teacher and worked in schools as a teacher and headmaster prior to 1946. In 1946 Diori was one of the co-founders of the Nigerien Progressive Party (a regional part of the African Democratic Rally party). The same year, he was elected to the French National Assembly. He was defeated in 1951 by his cousin, and elected again in 1956 when he was chosen as the deputy speaker.

In 1958 Diori became president of the provisional government, after Niger was granted the ability to self-govern from France. On August 3, 1960, Niger won its independence from France. Diori was elected president by the country's national assembly in November 1960.

During Diori's presidency, Niger continued to have close ties to France. Diori was elected (unopposed) in 1965 and 1970. Although Diori experienced international fame and respect, domestically it was thought that his administration suffered from a great deal of corruption. It was also thought that the government did not implement much needed reforms for the country, and the people of Niger paid the price as the country fell in to famine. Due to unrest at home, there was a coup attempt in 1963 and an assassination attempt on Diori in 1965.

In the 1970s there were accusations regarding government ministers in Diori's administration. At the same time Diori tried to consolidate power by declaring himself minister of foreign affairs and defense.

On April 15, 1974 another military coup came to power and successfully ended Diori's rule. He was imprisoned for six years, after being released in 1980 he served another seven years under house arrest. Upon his release in 1987 he relocated to Morocco and lived there until his death two years later.