Simple directory > Regional > Niger

Country : Niger Official name: République du Niger (Republic of Niger) Head of State: President Mamadou Tandja (MNSD) (since 1999; re-elected 4 Dec 2004) Head of government: Prime Minister Hama Amadou (MNSD) (appointed 3 Jan 2000) Ruling party: Mouvement National de la Société de Développement (MNSD) (National Movement for a Developing Society) (since 1999; re-elected 4 Dec 2004) Area: 1,267,000 square km Population: 12.67 million (2004) Capital: Niamey Official language: French Currency: CFA franc (CFAf) = 100 centimes (Communauté Financière Africaine (African Financial Community) franc). New notes have been issued; old notes cease to be legal tender from Jan 2005. Exchange rate: CFAf507.21 per US$ (Nov 2004); CFAf655.95 per euro (pegged from Jan 1999) GDP per capita: US$210 (2003) GDP real growth: 4.00% (2003) Labour force: 70,000 (2003) Inflation: -1.20% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$75.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$1.60 billion (2003)

Historical profile

Present-day Niger was at one time occupied and ruled by, among others, the Songhai empire in the west, the Hausa kingdoms in the centre and the Kanam-Bournu empire around Lake Chad in the east.

1800s The British were the first Europeans to explore the area.

1891–1911 France colonised the region, although it did not gain full control until much later and even then resistance movements continued.

1960 Niger gained independence from France under the presidency of Hamani Diori.

1974 Diori was overthrown and replaced by Lieutenant General Seyni Kountche.

1987 Upon Kountche's death, Brigadier Ali Saibou became president.

1992 Following a year-long period of transitional rule, a referendum on 26 December gave overwhelming approval to a new multi-party constitution and nominated the interim prime minister and 10 other ministers to form a High Council of the Republic to run the country until the elections.

1993 Multi-party elections resulted in an absolute majority for the Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC). Mahamane Ousmane was elected president.

1995 Early legislative elections gave the opposition Mouvement National de la Société de Développement (MNSD) (National Movement for a Developing Society), and its allies, a three-seat majority over AFC parties. A peace accord was signed.

1996 Mahamane Ousmane was toppled in a coup and replaced by Ibrahim Maïnassara Baré. A military-backed civilian government was formed. Maïnassara won the presidential election.

1997 The government reached an agreement with northern Tuareg rebels of the Organisation of Armed Resistance on the re-integration of the ex-rebels into society.

1999 President Maïnassara was assassinated by one of his bodygards during a military coup. Major Daouda Mallam Wanké, the interim military ruler, signed a decree promulgating a new constitution which balances power between the president, prime minister and the National Assembly. Mamadou Tandja won the presidential election.

2000 President Tandja appointed Hama Amadou as prime minister. Droughts caused widespread food shortages.

2001 Students staged a three-week uprising against tuition fees and campus conditions. After a poor harvest, food prices escalated and famine ensued.

2002 The EU granted US$319.5 million for Niger's poverty reduction effort.

2004 In April, the World Bank and the IMF supported US$1.20 billion in debt relief for Niger. Incumbent Mamadou Tandja was re-elected president in December and the ruling MNSD won the parliamentary elections.

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