{"id":7804,"date":"2021-05-20T04:00:07","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T04:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/?p=7804"},"modified":"2021-05-20T22:22:37","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T22:22:37","slug":"niger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/niger\/","title":{"rendered":"Niger"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/h2>\n

Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa named after the Niger River. Niger is bordered by Libya<\/a> to the northeast, Chad<\/a> to the east, Nigeria<\/a> to the south, Benin<\/a> and Burkina Faso<\/a> to the southwest, Mali<\/a> to the west, and Algeria<\/a> to the northwest. Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2 (490,000 sq mi), making it the largest country in West Africa. Over 80% of its land area lies in the Sahara Desert<\/a>. The country’s predominantly Muslim population of about 22 million live mostly in clusters in the far south and west of the country. The capital and largest city is Niamey<\/a>, located in Niger’s southwest corner.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Niger on the Globe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Niger is a developing country, which consistently ranks near the bottom in the United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI); it was ranked 187th of 188 countries for 2015 and 189th out of 189 countries in the 2018 and 2019 reports. Many of the non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The economy is concentrated around subsistence agriculture, with some export agriculture in the more fertile south, and export of raw materials, especially uranium ore. Niger faces serious challenges to development due to its landlocked position, desert terrain, inefficient agriculture, high fertility rates without birth control and resulting overpopulation, the poor educational level and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, poor healthcare, and environmental degradation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Niamey with Kennedy Bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nigerien society reflects a diversity drawn from the long independent histories of its several ethnic groups and regions and their relatively short period living in a single state. Historically, what is now Niger has been on the fringes of several large states. Since independence, Nigeriens have lived under five constitutions and three periods of military rule. After the military coup in 2010, Niger became a democratic, multi-party state. A majority of the population lives in rural areas and has little access to advanced education.<\/p>\n

History:<\/h2>\n

Prehistory:<\/h3>\n

Humans have inhabited the territory of modern Niger for millennia; stone tools, some dating as far back as 280,000 BC, have been found in Adrar Bous<\/a>, Bilma<\/a> and Djado<\/a> in the northern Agadez Region<\/a>. It is thought that these early humans lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Rock Carving in Niger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In prehistoric times the climate of the Sahara desert was much wetter and more fertile than it is today, a phenomenon archaeologists refer to as the ‘Green Sahara’, which provided favorable conditions for hunting and later agriculture and livestock herding.<\/p>\n

Empires and Kingdoms in Pre-Colonial Niger:<\/h3>\n

Our knowledge of early Nigerien history is limited by the lack of written sources, though it is known that by at least the 5th century BC the territory of modern Niger had become an area of trans-Saharan trade. Led by Tuareg tribes from the north, camels were as a well-adapted means of transportation through what was now an immense desert.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Niger Tuareg Festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This mobility, which would continue in waves for several centuries, was accompanied with further migration to the south and intermixing between sub-Saharan African and North African populations, as well as the gradual spread of Islam. It was also aided by the Arab invasion of North Africa at the end of the 7th century, which resulted in population movements to the south. Several empires and kingdoms flourished in the Sahel during this era. Their history does not fit easily within the modern boundaries of Niger, which were created during the period of European colonialism.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Songhai Empire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At least parts of modern day Niger were parts of the following empires and independent states:<\/p>\n

Mali Empire<\/a> (1200s\u20131400s)
\nSonghai Empire<\/a> (1000s\u20131591)
\nSultanate of A\u00efr<\/a> (1400s\u20131906)
\nKanem-Bornu Empire<\/a> (700s\u20131700s)
\nThe Hausa States and Other Smaller Kingdoms<\/a> (1400s\u20131800s)<\/p>\n

French Niger (1900\u201358):<\/h3>\n

In the 19th century Europeans began to take a greater interest in Africa; several European explorers travelled in the area of modern Niger, such as Mungo Park<\/a> (in 1805\u201306), the Oudney<\/a>–Denham<\/a>–Clapperton<\/a> expedition (1822\u201325), Heinrich Barth<\/a> (1850\u201355; with James Richardson<\/a> and Adolf Overweg<\/a>), Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs<\/a> (1865\u201367), Gustav Nachtigal<\/a> (1869\u201374) and Parfait-Louis Monteil<\/a> (1890\u201392).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Parfait-Louis Monteil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several European countries already possessed littoral colonies in Africa, and in the latter half of the century they began to turn their eyes towards the interior of the continent. This process, known as the ‘Scramble for Africa<\/a>‘, culminated in the 1885 Berlin conference<\/a> in which the colonial powers outlined the division of Africa into spheres of influence. As a result of this, France gained control of the upper valley of the Niger River<\/a> (roughly equivalent to the areas of modern Mali and Niger). France then set about making a reality of their rule on the ground.<\/p>\n

The French started the colonization process in 1897. This marked the beginning of a long series of violent events and outright atrocities that would mark the process of establishing and maintaining French control.<\/p>\n

The Military Territory of Niger was subsequently created within the Upper Senegal and Niger colony<\/a> (modern Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) in December 1904 with its capital at Niamey, then little more than a large village. The border with Britain’s colony of Nigeria to the south was finalized in 1910. The capital of the territory was moved to Zinder in 1912 when the Niger Military Territory was split off from Upper Senegal and Niger, before being moved back to Niamey in 1922 when Niger became a fully-fledged colony within French West Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
French West Africa in Green<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The borders of Niger were drawn up in various stages and had been fixed at their current position by the late 1930s.<\/p>\n

The French generally adopted a form of indirect rule, allowing existing native structures to continue to exist within the colonial framework of governance providing that they acknowledged French supremacy. The Zarma of the Dosso Kingdom in particular proved amenable to French rule, using them as allies against the encroachments of Hausa and other nearby states; over time the Zarma thus became one of the more educated and westernized groups in Niger.<\/p>\n

Following World War II Niger began the process of achieving independence. It was during this period that the Nigerien Progressive Party was formed under the leadership of former teacher Hamani Diori<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hamani Diori<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1958, Niger became an autonomous state within the French Community. On 18 December 1958, an autonomous Republic of Niger was officially created under the leadership of Hamani Diori. On 11 July 1960, Niger decided to leave the French Community and acquired full independence on 3 August 1960; Diori thus became the first president of the country.<\/p>\n

Independent Niger (1960\u2013present):<\/h3>\n

For its first 14 years as an independent state Niger was run by a single-party civilian regime under the presidency of Hamani Diori. The 1960s were largely peaceful, and saw a large expansion of the education system and some limited economic development and industrialization. Links with France remained deep, with Diori allowing the development of French-led uranium mining in Arlit<\/a> and supporting France in the Algerian War<\/a>. In the early 1970s, a combination of economic difficulties, devastating droughts and accusations of rampant corruption and mismanagement of food supplies resulted in a coup d’\u00e9tat that overthrew the Diori regime.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Arlit Open Pit Uranium Mine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Decades of instability and successive military regimes would follow the 1974 coup. Between 1974 and 2010 Niger endured four military regimes interspersed with civilian rule that resulted in seven republics and five variations on the Constitution. Details regarding this period are available elsewhere.<\/a><\/p>\n

Following the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 and presidential elections a year later, Mahamadou Issoufou<\/a> was elected as the first president of the Seventh Republic; he was then re-elected in 2016.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mahamadou Issoufou<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Issoufou’s time in office has been marked by numerous threats to the country’s security, stemming from the fallout from the Libyan Civil War<\/a> and Northern Mali conflict<\/a>, a rise in attacks by AQIM, the use of Niger as a transit country for migrants (often organized by criminal gangs), and the spillover of Nigeria’s Boko Haram<\/a> insurgency into south-eastern Niger. French and American forces are currently assisting Niger in countering these threats.<\/p>\n

On 27 December 2020, Nigeriens went to the polls after Issoufou announced he would step down, paving the way to Niger’s first ever peaceful transition of power. However, no candidate won an absolute majority in the vote: Mohamed Bazoum<\/a> came closest with 39.33%.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mohamed Bazoum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As per the constitution, a run-off election was held on 20 February 2021, with Bazoum taking 55.75% of the vote and opposition candidate (and former President) Mahamane Ousmane taking 44.25%, according to the electoral commission.[86]<\/p>\n

Geography:<\/h2>\n

Niger is a landlocked nation in West Africa located along the border between the Sahara<\/a> and Sub-Saharan regions<\/a>. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Topographic Map of Niger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Niger’s area is 1,267,000 square kilometers (489,191 sq mi) of which 300 square kilometers (116 sq mi) is water. This makes it slightly less than twice the size of France, and the world’s twenty-second largest country.<\/p>\n

The lowest point is the Niger River, with an elevation of 200 meters (656 ft). The highest point is Mont Idoukal-n-Tagh\u00e8s<\/a> in the A\u00efr Mountains<\/a> at 2,022 m (6,634 ft).<\/p>\n

Economy:<\/h2>\n

The economy of Niger centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world’s largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 2.9% population growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercut the economy.<\/p>\n

Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc<\/a>, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)<\/a>, with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union<\/a>. Niger is also a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
2017 Niger Exports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund<\/a> program for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)<\/a> and concluded an agreement with the Fund for Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF)<\/a>. Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger’s annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV\/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction.<\/p>\n

In December 2005, it was announced that Niger had received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately US$86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. Nearly half of the government’s budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Uranium prices have recovered somewhat in the last few years.<\/p>\n

Transportation:<\/h2>\n

Niger’s transport system was little developed during the colonial period (1899\u20131960), relying upon animal transport, human transport, and limited river transport in the far south west and south east. No railways were constructed in the colonial period, and roads outside the capital remained unpaved. The Niger River is unsuitable for large-scale river transport, as it lacks depth for most of the year and is broken by rapids at many spots. Camel caravan transport was historically important in the Sahara desert and Sahel regions which cover most of the north.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Animal Powered Transit in Niger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While few Nigeriens own vehicles, the majority of travel relies on motorized transportation in the form of motor bikes, buses and shared taxis. Animal powered locomotion is also common.<\/p>\n

The road system has been greatly improved since colonial times although it is far from comprehensively paved, especially in the desert north. In 2012, there is 19,675 kilometres (12,225 mi) of road network throughout Niger, of which only 4,225 kilometres (2,625 mi) are paved.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Niger Road Network<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey<\/a> to Gaya<\/a> on the Benin frontier from mid-December to March. Thereafter a series of falls and rapids render the Niger unnavigable in all seasons. In the navigable stretches, shallows prevent all but the small draft African canoes from operating in many areas. As there is only one major bridge over the Niger (The Kennedy Bridge<\/a> in Niamey: the Niger River bridge at Gaya crosses into Benin), car ferries are of crucial importance, especially the crossing at Bac Farie, 40 km north of Niamey on the RN4, and the car ferry at Ayorou.<\/p>\n

Of the 9 airports with paved runways, 2 with paved strips from 2,438 to 3,047 m: Diori Hamani International Airport<\/a> and Mano Dayak International Airport<\/a>. These are the only two Nigerien airports with regular international commercial flights.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Diori Hamani International Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Niger is a user of the Benin and Togo railway lines which carry goods from seaports to the Niger border. Rail lines to Niamey and other points in Niger were proposed during the colonial period, and continue to be discussed.<\/p>\n

Flag of Niger:<\/h2>\n

The Flag of Niger has been the national symbol of the West African Republic of Niger since 1959, a year prior to its formal independence from French West Africa. It uses the national colors of orange, white and green, in equal horizontal bands, with an orange roundel in the center.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flag of Niger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prior to independence from French West Africa, the flag of Niger was adopted by the Territorial Assembly of the Niger Colony on 23 November 1959, shortly before proclamation of the Republic within the French Community on 18 December 1959. The flag was designed in 1958. It was retained upon independence in 1960 and has remained unchanged through the 1999 Fifth Constitution.<\/p>\n

A number of sources have described the symbolic intent of the flag, although official sources have yet to make comment on the validity of any of the aforementioned sources. A common interpretation is that the upper orange band represents the northern regions of the Sahara Desert (though this is sometimes said to be the Sahel<\/a>), the center white band represents purity (though this is sometimes said to be the Niger River<\/a>) and also represents the French-descended small white minority, and the lower green band represents both hope and the fertile regions of southern Niger. The orange circle in the center band is said to represent the sun or independence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A number of sources have described the symbolic intent of the flag, although official sources have yet to make comment on the validity of any of the aforementioned sources. A common interpretation is that the upper orange band represents the northern regions of the Sahara Desert (though this is sometimes said to be the Sahel), the center white band represents purity (though this is sometimes said to be the Niger River) and also represents the French-descended small white minority, and the lower green band represents both hope and the fertile regions of southern Niger. The orange circle in the center band is said to represent the sun or independence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8345,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[19,59,5,27,6,7,18,60],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7804"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}