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Niger
 
[French
                                    Flag]
23 Jul 1900 - 23 Nov 1959
[Flag of
                                    Niger]
Adopted 23 Nov 1959
Map of Niger
Hear National Anthem
"L'Honneur de la Patrie"
(The Honour of the Fatherland)
Adopted 22 Jun 2023
Former National Anthem
"La Nigérienne"
(The Nigerien)
(12 Jul 1961 - 22 Jun 2023)
Constitution
(29 Nov 2010, in French;
suspended 26 Jul 2023)
----------------------------------

Former Constitutions
(18 Aug 2009-18 Feb 2010 and
 9 Aug 1999 - 18 Aug 2009;
in French)
Capital: Niamey
(Zinder 1911-28 Dec 1926;
Niamey 1903-1911;
Sorbo-Haoussa 1900-1903)
Currency: Communauté
Financière Africaine
Franc (XOF)
National Holiday: 18 Dec (1958)
Republic Day 
Population: 26,342,784 (2024)
GDP: $44.6 billion (2023)
Exports: $1.4 billion (2022)
Imports: $4.2 billion (2022) 
Ethnic groups: Hausa 53.1%, Zarma/Songhai 21.2%, Tuareg 11%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.5%, Kanuri 5.9%, Gurma 0.8%, Arab 0.4%, Tubu 0.4%, other/unavailable 0.9% (2006)
Total Active Armed Forces: 10,700 (2021)
Russian Forces: 100 (Apr. 2024)
Merchant marine
: None (2023)
Religions: Muslim 95.5%, ethno-religionist 4.1%, Christian 0.3%, agnostics and other 0.1% (2020)
International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AES, AfCFTA, AfDB, APM, AU (suspended), BCEAO, BTWC, CCM, CD, CEMAC, CEN-SAD, CTBT, CWC, EITI, ENMOD, ESCR, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LCBC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OPCW, OST, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Niger Index
Chronology

 6 Sep 1880 - 18 Aug 1890  Part of French territory of Upper Senegal (Haut-
                             Sénégal
)(see under Mali), within French West
                             Africa
(see Senegal).
18 Aug 1890 - 17 Oct 1899  Part of French Sudan (Soudan Français)(see Mali).
17 Oct 1899 -  1 Jan 1911  Part of Upper Senegal and Middle Niger (Haut-Sénégal
                             et Moyen-Niger; renamed Haut-Sénégal-Niger [Upper
                             Senegal and Niger])(see Mali).
23 Jul 1900                French autonomous Military Territory of Zinder,
                             (Territoire militaire de Zinder), part of French
                             West Africa
.
22 Jun 1910                Niger Military Territory (Territoire militaire du
                             Niger)(including the
cercle de Gao and cercle de
                             Tibesti).
21 Jun 1911                Gao cercle ceded to French Sudan (Mali).
 4 Dec 1920                Niger Territory (Territoire du Niger).
26 Dec 1922                French Colony of Niger (Colonie du Niger).
18 Feb 1930                Tibesti cercle ceded to Chad colony.
 1 Jan 1933 - 27 Sep 1947  Haute-Volta is dissolved and the Cercle de Dori
                             Cercle de Fada N'Gourma made part of Niger.
16 Jun 1940 - 23 Nov 1942  Administration loyal to Vichy France
(from 23 Nov
                             1942 [under Darlan to 24 Dec 1942], Free French).
13 Oct 1946                Niger overseas territory of France.
18 Dec 1958                Autonomy (Republic of Niger [République du Niger]).
18 Dec 1958 -  2 Aug 1960  Member State of the Communauté (French Community).
 
2 Aug 1960                Niger acceded to sovereignty and independence in
                             accordance with a special agreement signed by
                             France and Niger on 11 Jul 1960 in Paris.
 3 Aug 1960                Independence of Niger is proclaimed.

Traditional
States

 
 
 
 
 

Commandants
20 Dec 1900 - 1901         Étienne Péroz                      (b. 1857 - d. 1910)
13 Nov 1901 - 1902         Henri Joseph Eugène Gouraud        (b. 1867 - d. 1946)
 3 Nov 1902 - 1903         François Marie Noël                (b. 1858 - d. 1912)
Nov 1903 - 1906            Joseph Gauderique Aymerich         (b. 1857 - d. 1937)
1906 - 1907                Grégoire Ignace Dominique Lamolle  (b. 1855 - d. 1925)
Jan 1907 - 1908            Marc Cristofari                    (b. 1860 - d. 1922)
Aug 1908 - Feb 1910        Paul Célestin Marie Joseph Venel   (b. 1864 - d. 1920)
                             (1st time)
Feb 1910 - 22 Jun 1910     ... Seal (acting)
22 Jun 1910 - 27 Sep 1911  Paul Célestin Marie Joseph Venel   (s.a.)

                             (2nd time)
27 Sep 1911 - 1912         Adolphe Charles Léon Hocquart      (b. 1861 - d. 1913)
1912 - 24 Feb 1913         Charles Camille Thierry de Maugras (b. 1860 - d. 19..)
                             (acting)
Commissioners
24 Feb 1913 -  4 Dec 1913  Charles Camille Thierry de Maugras (s.a.)
                             (acting)
 4 Dec 1913 - 15 Nov 1915  Paul Célestin Marie Joseph Venel   (s.a.)
15 Nov 1915 - 24 Jan 1918  Charles Henry Mourin               (b. 1863 - d. 19..)
24 Jan 1918 - 1919         Marie Joseph Félix Méchet          (b. 1870 - d. 1926)
Aug 1919 - 1920            Claude Paul Émile Lefebvre         (b. 1878 - d. 19..)
1920 -  5 Jul 1920         Maurice Gustave Fernand Renauld    (b. 1873 - d. 1953)
                             (acting)
 5 Jul 1920 - 1921         Louis Émile Ruef                   (b. 1870 - d. 1960)
1921 - 26 Dec 1922         Joseph Jules Brévié                (b. 1880 - d. 1964)
Lieutenant governors
26 Dec 1922 -  9 Oct 1929  Joseph Jules Brévié                (s.a.)
23 Mar 1923 - Sep 1925     Léonce Jore (acting for Brévié)    (b. 1882 - d. 1975)
 9 Oct 1929 - 21 Nov 1929  Jean-Baptiste Robert Fayout        (b. 1875 - d. 19..) 
                             (acting)
21 Nov 1929 - 30 Oct 1930  Alphonse Paul Albert Choteau       (b. 1883 - d. 1936)
30 Oct 1930 -  9 Sep 1931  Louis Placide Blacher              (b. 1883 - d. 1960)
 9 Sep 1931 - 25 May 1933  Théophile Antoine Pascal Tellier   (b. 1872 - d. 1955)
25 May 1933 -  7 Apr 1934  Maurice Léon Bourgine              (b. 1879 - d. 1963)
 
7 Apr 1934 - 16 Mar 1935  Léon Charles Adolphe Pêtre         (b. 1881 - d. 1956)
16 Mar 1935 - 29 Apr 1938  Joseph Urbain Court                (b. 1881 - d. 1948)
29 Apr 1938 - 18 Feb 1939  Jean-Baptiste Victor Chazelas      (b. 1885 - d. 1953)
                             (acting)
18 Feb 1939 -  7 Nov 1940  Jean Alexandre Léon Rapenne        (b. 1901 - d. 1952)
 7 Nov 1940 -  8 Dec 1940  Léon Solomiac (acting)             (b. 1873 - d. 1960)
 8 Dec 1940 -  4 Mar 1942  Maurice Émile Falvy                (b. 1888 - d. 1970)
 4 Mar 1942 - 21 Dec 1954  Jean-François Toby                 (b. 1900 - d. 1964)
                             (acting to 29 Dec 1942) 
30 Apr 1946 - 13 Oct 1946  Jacques Pierre Gosselin            (b. 1897 - d. 1953) 
                             (acting for Toby)
24 Nov 1948 - 25 Feb 1949  Lucien Eugène Geay                 (b. 1900 - d. 1976) 
                             (acting for Toby)
25 Feb 1949 - 29 Mar 1950  Igance Colombani                   (b. 1908 - d. 1988)
                             (acting for Toby)
11 Feb 1952 - 23 Feb 1953  Fernand Gaston Georges Émile       (b. 1896 - d. 1985)
                             Robert Casimir (
acting for Toby)
21 Dec 1954 -  3 Nov 1956  Jean Paul Ramadier                 (b. 1913 - d. 1968)
 3 Nov 1956 - 29 Jan 1958  Paul Camille Bordier               (b. 1921 - d. 2003)
29 Jan 1958 - 25 Aug 1958  Louis Félix Rollet (acting)        (b. 1915 - d. 2001)
High commissioner
25 Aug 1958 -  3 Aug 1960  Jean Colombani                     (b. 1903 - d. 1977)
President
 
3 Aug 1960 - 15 Apr 1974  Hamani Diori                       (b. 1916 - d. 1989)  PPN-RDA
                            
(president of the council to 9 Nov 1960)
Presidents of the Supreme Military Council, Heads of State
15 Apr 1974 - 10 Nov 1987  Seyni Kountché                     (b. 1931 - d. 1987)  Mil
                             (army chief of staff to 17 Apr 1974)
10 Nov 1987 - 17 May 1989  Ali Saïbou                         (b. 1940 - d. 2011)  Mil 
                             (interim to 14 Nov 1987)
President of the Superior Council of National Orientation, Head of State
17 May 1989 - 18 Dec 1989  Ali Saïbou                         (s.a.)               MNSD
Presidents
18 Dec 1989 - 16 Apr 1993  Ali Saïbou                         (s.a.)               MNSD
16 Apr 1993 - 27 Jan 1996  Mahamane Ousmane                   (b. 1950)            CDS
President of the National Salvation Council
27 Jan 1996 -  7 Aug 1996  Ibrahim Maïnassara Baré            (b. 1949 - d. 1999)  Mil
Presidents
 7 Aug 1996 -  9 Apr 1999  Ibrahim Maïnassara Baré            (s.a.)            UNIRD;1997 RDP
 9 Apr 1999 - 11 Apr 1999  Ibrahim Assane Mayaki (acting)     (b. 1951)            UNIRD
Chairman of the Military Junta

 9 Apr 1999 - 11 Apr 1999  Djibrilla Hamidou Hima             (b. 1965)            Mil
President of the National Reconciliation Council, Head of State

11 Apr 1999 - 22 Dec 1999  Daouda Mallam Wanké                (b. 1954 - d. 2004)  Mil
President
22 Dec 1999 - 18 Feb 2010  Mamadou Tandja                     (b. 1938 - d. 2020)  MNSD
President of Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy,
(from 22 Feb 2010) Head of State

18 Feb 2010 -  7 Apr 2011  Salou Djibo                        (b. 1965)            Mil
Presidents
 7 Apr 2011 -  2 Apr 2021  Mahamadou Issoufou                 (b. 1952)            PNDS
 2 Apr 2021 - 26 Jul 2023  Mohamed Bazoum                     (b. 1960)            PNDS
26 Jul 2023 - 28 Jul 2023  the National Council for the Safeguarding
                           of the Fatherland

President of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland, Head of State
28 Jul 2023 -
26 Mar 2025  Abdourahamane Tiani (Tchiani)      (b. 1960)            Mil
President
26 Mar 2025 -              Abdourahamane Tiani (Tchiani)      (b. 1960)            Mil
 

Vice President of the Council of Government
20 May 1957 - 26 Jul 1958  Djibo Bakary                       (b. 1922 - d. 1998)  PRA
Presidents of the Government Council
26 Jul 1958 - 10 Oct 1958  Djibo Bakary                       (s.a.)               PRA
18 Dec 1958 - 25 Feb 1959  Hamani Diori                       (s.a.)               PPN-RDA
25 Feb 1959 -  3 Aug 1960  Hamani Diori                       (s.a.)               PPN-RDA
President of the Council
 
3 Aug 1960 -  9 Nov 1960  Hamani Diori                       (s.a.)               PPN-RDA

Prime ministers
10 Nov 1960 - 24 Jan 1983 
Post abolished
24 Jan 1983 - 14 Nov 1983  Mamane Oumarou (1st time)          (b. 1945)            Non-party
14 Nov 1983 - 15 Jul 1988  Ahmid Algabid                      (b. 1941)            Non-party
15 Jul 1988 - 20 Dec 1989  Mamane Oumarou (2nd time)          (s.a.)               MNSD
20 Dec 1989 -  2 Mar 1990  Post abolished
 2 Mar 1990 - 27 Oct 1991  Aliou Mahamidou                    (b. 1936 - d. 1996)  MNSD
27 Oct 1991 - 17 Apr 1993  Amadou Cheiffou                    (b. 1942)            Non-party
17 Apr 1993 - 28 Sep 1994  Mahamadou Issoufou                 (s.a.)               PNDS
28 Sep 1994 -  8 Feb 1995  Souley Abdoulaye                   (b. 1965)            CDS
 8 Feb 1995 - 21 Feb 1995  Amadou Boubacar Cissé (1st time)   (b. 1948)            Non-party
21 Feb 1995 - 27 Jan 1996  Hama Amadou (1st time)             (b. 1950 - d. 2024)  MNSD-N
30 Jan 1996 - 21 Dec 1996  Boukary Adji                       (b. 1939 - d. 2018)  Non-party
21 Dec 1996 - 27 Nov 1997  Amadou Boubacar Cissé (2nd time)   (s.a.)               RDP
27 Nov 1997 -  3 Jan 2000  Ibrahim Aassane Mayaki             (s.a.)               UNIRD
 3 Jan 2000 -  7 Jun 2007  Hama Amadou (2nd time)             (s.a.)               MNSD-N
 7 Jun 2007 - 23 Sep 2009  Seyni Oumarou                      (b. 1950)            MNSD-N
23 Sep 2009 -  8 Oct 2009  Albadé Abouba (acting)                                  MNSD-N
 
8 Oct 2009 - 18 Feb 2010  Ali Badjo Gamatié                  (b. 1957)            MNSD-N
18 Feb 2010 - 23 Feb 2010  Vacant
23 Feb 2010 -  7 Apr 2011  Mahamadou Danda                    (b. 1951)            Non-party
 7 Apr 2011 -  3 Apr 2021  Brigi Rafini                       (b. 1953)            PNDS
 3 Apr 2021 - 26 Jul 2023  Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou              (b. 1954)            PNDS
26 Jul 2023 -  8 Aug 2023  Vacant
 8 Aug 2023 -              Ali Mahamane Lamine Zène           (b. 1965)            Non-party

Territorial Disputes: Location of Niger-Benin-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved; the dispute with Burkina Faso was referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2010; the ICJ ruled in 2013 that 786 sq km should go to Burkina Faso and 277 sq km to Niger; the ruling was implemented in 2015 and 2016, with Burkina Faso gaining 14 towns and Niger 4; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tummo region.

Party abbreviations (party activities suspended from 27 Jul 2023): CDS = Convention Démocratique et Sociale-Rahama (Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama, centrist, est.1991); MNSD-NMouvement National pour la Société du Développement-Nassara (National Movement for the Society of Development-Nassara, liberal conservative, center-right, former MNSD, est.1991); PNDS = Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme-Tarayya (Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Gathering, social-democratic, est.1990, suspended 27 Jul 2023); RDP = Rassemblement pour la Démocratie et le Progrès-Jama'a (Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a, 1997-99, ruling party est.1997); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: MNSD = Mouvement National pour la Société du Développement (National Movement for the Society of Development, conservative, 1989-1990 was only legal party, 1990-1991, then MNSD-N); PPN-RDA = Parti Progressiste Nigérien-Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (Nigerien Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally, nationalist, pan-African, 1960-1974 de facto state legal party, 1946-1974); PRA = Parti du Regroupement Africain (African Regroupment Party, 1958-1960); UNIRD = Union Nationale des Indépendants pour le Renouveau Démocratique (National Union of Independents for Democratic Renewal, authoritarian, 1996-1999)







© Ben Cahoon