Amadou Toumani Touré, known as ATT, was a Malian politician who played a significant role in the political transition and democratic development of Mali. Born on November 4, 1948, in Mopti, Mali, Touré began his journey in the military before entering politics and becoming the second democratically elected President of Mali.

Touré started his education in Mopti and later attended Badalabougou Standard Secondary School in Bamako with the goal of becoming a teacher. However, he eventually joined the army and enrolled in the Kati Inter-Military College. As a member of the Parachute Corps, he excelled in his military career and rose through the ranks. He received training in the Soviet Union and France, and in 1984, he became the commander of the parachute commandos.

In March 1991, Mali experienced a popular revolution against the military regime of President Moussa Traoré. Touré, who was head of President Traoré's personal guard and parachute regiment, played a crucial role in the revolution. The armed forces refused to fire on the Malian people, and Touré arrested President Traoré. He then became the leader of the Transitional Committee for the Welfare of the People and acted as the head of state during the transition to democracy. He oversaw the drafting of a new constitution and the scheduling of multiparty elections.

After the successful transition to democracy, Touré handed over power to the newly elected President Alpha Oumar Konaré on June 6, 1992. Following his voluntary departure from office, he earned the nickname "The Soldier of Democracy" for his commitment to democratic principles and peaceful transfer of power.

In 2001, Touré retired from the military and entered politics as a civilian. He ran as a candidate in the 2002 presidential election and won with a broad coalition of support. His presidency was marked by inclusivity, as he appointed members from various political parties to his government. During his tenure, he focused on infrastructure development and implemented the first national medical insurance system in Mali. He was re-elected in 2007 for a second term as president.

However, in 2012, Touré's presidency faced challenges when elements of the Malian military protested the government's handling of an insurgency in northern Mali. This unrest led to a coup d'état, with soldiers accusing Touré of mismanagement and overthrowing his government. Touré went into hiding, and his whereabouts were initially unknown. Eventually, he re-emerged and announced his resignation in accordance with an agreement brokered by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional order. He went into exile in Senegal.

Outside of politics, Touré was involved in charitable work. In 1993, he founded the Fondation pour l'enfance, a children's health foundation, which was managed by his wife, Touré Lobbo Traoré, during his presidency. He was also a member of the Earth Charter International Commission.

Amadou Toumani Touré passed away on November 9, 2020, in Istanbul, Turkey, at the age of 72, a week after his birthday. His contributions to the democratic transition and his commitment to peaceful governance have left a lasting impact on Mali's political history.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadou_Toumani_Tour