Niger

 The Republic of Niger is located in Western Africa. It is a landlocked nation, sharing the border with Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east. Niger is named after the Niger River. Niamey is the capital of Niger. It is one of the most impoverished nations in the world.

HISTORY:- The nomadic Tuaregs were the earliest inhabitants of the region. Starting with the Songhai Empire, the Hausa Empire in the 14th century, the Zerma Empire in the 17th century, the Gobir Empire in 18th century, and Fulani Empire in the 19th century flourished in the country. In 1896, Niger became a part of the French West Africa. In 1922, Niger gained the status of a French colony. In 1946, French constitution established a decentralizing power and a limited participation for local advisory assemblies in politics. With the Fifth French Republic in 1958, Niger became an autonomous state within the French Community. In 1959, Niger adopted a constitution. Following year in 1960, Niger achieved independence. Hamani Diori became the first president of Niger and governed the country under the single-party civilian regime. In 1974, Diori was overthrown by an army coup and Lt. Col. Seyni Kountché became the new president. In 1993, Niger’s first multiparty elections were held and Ousmane Mahamane became the elected president of Niger.

GEOGRAPHY:- Niger is located at 16 00 N, 8 00 E in Western Africa. Niger spans across 1.267 million sq km area in which land captures total 1,266,700 sq km area and water captures total 300 sq km area. Niger is a landlocked nation between the Sahara and Sub-Saharan regions. The lowest point is Niger River (200 m) and the highest point is Mont Bagzane (2,022 m). Niger is predominately formed of desert plains and sand dunes in the center, flat to rolling plains in the south and hills in the north.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Niger is mostly desert, hot, dry, dusty while tropical climate can be seen in the extreme south.

GOVERNMENT:- Niger is a republic. The new constitution was adopted on 18th July 1999. The legal system is based on the French civil law system and the customary law. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The president is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term. The Prime minister is appointed by the president and he shares some executive responsibilities along with the president. The 26-member cabinet is appointed by the President.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (113 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the High Court of Justice.

 Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama, National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara, Niger Social Democratic Party, Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya, Nigerien Party for Autonomy, Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism are the major political parties of Niger. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President        Mamadou Tandja

Prime Minister      Seini Oumarou

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation   Aïchatou Mindaoudou

Ambassador to the United States    Aminata Maiga Djibrilla Toure

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Niger is divided into 7 regions and 1 capital district (Niamey). The regions are:- Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Zinder. These regions are further divided into 36 departments and 265 communes.

CULTURE:- Niger is a multi-ethnic country. Hausa, Beriberi, Songhai, Djerma, Dendi, Fula, Wodaabe, and Tuareg traditions were mingled after independence to form the present Nigerien culture. Some notable writers of Niger are Boubou Hama, Djibo Bakary,

Andrée Clair, Hélène Kaziende, and Oum Ramatou.

ECONOMY:- In spite of having one of the world’s largest uranium reserves, Niger is among the poorest countries in the world. It ranks among the last nations on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. The economy of the country mainly depends upon the subsistence crops and livestock.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $8.902 billion; per capita $700.

Real growth rate: 3.2%.

Inflation: 0.1%.

Unemployment: n.a.

Arable land: 11%.

Agriculture: Cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry.

Budget:  

Revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources)

Expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)

Debt - external: $2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries (2002 est.); agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%.

Industries: Uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses.

Natural resources: Uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum.

Exports: $428 million f.o.b. (2006): uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions.

Imports: $800 million f.o.b. (2006): foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals.

Major trading partners: France, Nigeria, Russia, U.S., French Polynesia, Côte d'Ivoire, China (2006).

Monetary unit: CFA Franc

LANGUAGE:- French is the official language of Niger while Hausa and Djerma are also widely spoken by the Nigeriens.

CITIES:- The capital city Niamey is the largest city of Niger. Other large cities are Tahoua, Konni, Maradi, Zinder, Diffa, Dosso, Arlit, and Agadez.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Niger is 12,894,865 with a growth rate of 2.9%.

Density per sq mi: 26

Literacy rate: 28.7% (2005 est.)

RACE:-

Haoussa 55.4%

Djerma Sonrai 21%

Tuareg 9.3%

Peuhl 8.5%

Kanouri Manga 4.7%

Other 1.2% (2001)

RELIGION:-

Muslim 80%

Other (including indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 49.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 20.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 115.42 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 7.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.28 years

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,800 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 25

UNICEF:- Education rates are very low in Niger. UNICEF focuses on girls’ education along with concentrating on birth registration, elimination of early marriage, promoting nutrition, HIV prevention, immunization. UNICEF partners with the government in Niger.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 14,565 km; paved: 3,641 km; unpaved: 10,924 km (2004).

Waterways: The Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March.

Ports and harbors: none.

Airports: 28 (2007).