Government Niger

Cheiffou is an ethnic Peulh and was born in Kornaka, in Maradi Department. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Cheiffou worked in Dakar as a representative of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Central and West Africa. He was a delegate for the Association of Nigeriens Abroad at the 1991 National Conference; at the Conference, he was the compromise choice for the position of Prime Minister, although he was opposed by the delegates representing the government, and was elected on 26 October.

His selection as Prime Minister was aided by his political inexperience and lack of association with the old regime of Seyni Kountché and Ali Saibou. Cheiffou headed the transitional government that served from 1991 to 1993, during the transitional period leading to multiparty elections. He also served as Minister of National Defense during that period. Along with President Saibou and André Salifou, the President of the High Council of the Republic, he was prohibited by the National Conference from standing as a candidate in the February 1993 presidential election.

As of 2002, Cheiffou was the ICAO's Regional Director for its Western and Central African Office.

Cheiffou was Vice-President of the Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama (CDS) before splitting with that party and its President, Mahamane Ousmane, and creating his own party, the Social Democratic Rally (RSD-Gaskiya), in January 2004. In the presidential election held on 16 November 2004, Cheiffou placed fourth out of six candidates, winning 6.35% of the vote. He was elected to the National Assembly in the December 2004 parliamentary election as an RSD candidate in Maradi constituency.

When the 85-member Economic, Social and Cultural Council (CESOC) was installed by President Mamadou Tandja on January 3, 2006, Cheiffou became President of CESOC.

The RSD supported President Tandja during the 2009 political crisis, and it participated in the October 2009 parliamentary election. The opposition, angered by President Tandja's efforts to change the constitution so that he could remain in power, boycotted the election. ECOWAS, which had wanted the election delayed in hopes of resolving the political crisis, suspended Niger from its ranks immediately after the election was held. Cheiffou was included in the 22-member Nigerien delegation that traveled to Abuja for talks with ECOWAS beginning on November 9, 2009.

Still serving as President of CESOC, Cheiffou stood as a candidate in the December 2009 local elections and was elected as a municipal councillor in Kornaka. Chieffou's decision to run for local office was considered striking, as it was rare for major political leaders in Niger to do so.