Description of the country Niger. Republic of Niger: geographical location, standard of living, sights of the country. Fine arts and crafts

The content of the article

NIGER, Republic of Niger. State in West Africa. The capital is Niamey (700 thousand people - 2002). Territory - 1.267 million sq. km. Administrative divisions - 7 departments and the metropolitan municipal district. Population - 12.5 million people. (2005, estimate). The official language is French. Religion - Islam, traditional African beliefs and Christianity. The monetary unit is the CFA franc. National holiday - Day of the proclamation of the Republic (1958), December 18. Niger has been a member of the UN since 1960, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, the Common Afro-Mauritius Organization (OCAM) since 1965, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Economic and Monetary Union of West African States (UEMOA) since 1994 and the International Organization of Francophonie (OIC).

Geographical location and boundaries.

Inland state. It shares borders with Nigeria in the south, with Benin and Burkina Faso in the south-west, with Mali in the west, with Algeria and Libya in the north, and with Chad in the east.

Nature.

The territory of Niger is located within the ancient African plate. Basement rocks - granites, gneisses and crystalline schists - come to the surface in the north - in the Air massif, in the southwest - on the coast of the Niger River and in the south - between the cities of Zinder and Gure. Air divides the country into western and eastern parts. Its steep, steep slopes stand out sharply against the background of the surrounding plateaus. The massif is composed of ancient crystalline rocks broken by volcanic intrusions. Aira contains rich deposits of uranium ores in the Arlit and Imuraren regions, as well as coal deposits in Anu-Araren.

In the west and east of the country, the foundation is covered by a stratum of sedimentary rocks. Thick oil-bearing layers have been discovered here, which are being developed in the Tin-Tumma area. On the right bank of the Niger River, industrial deposits of iron ore were discovered near the city of Sai and phosphorites near Tapoa and Tahua. Deposits of gypsum and tin were also discovered.

The Air massif has a general slope to the west, where heights reach only 700–800 m. There are many deep valleys with dry riverbeds (locally called “kori”), which occasionally fill with water during rains. In the central part of the massif, average heights reach 1300-1700 m. The highest points of the country are located here - Tamgak (1988) and Idukaln-Tages (2022 m).

The eastern part of Cala drops abruptly towards the vast Tenere Desert, dominated by mobile dunes that form dune ridges and massifs.

In the north of Niger, there are the Mangeni and Jado plateaus, dissected by deep canyons. The average heights of the plateau are 800-900 m (the highest point is 1054 m on the Mangeni plateau).

In the southern regions of the country, flat plateaus prevail, composed of sandstones, sands and loams with individual outcrops of crystalline rocks. Average elevations are 200–500 m. The monotony of the relief is disturbed by the highly dissected plateau Adar-Duchi to the southeast of Tahua and picturesque granite hills in the vicinity of Zinder.

Niger is located in one of the hottest regions in the world. The average annual temperature here is 27-29 ° C. The evaporation rate reaches 2000-3000 mm, while the annual precipitation almost nowhere exceeds 600 mm.

The vast northern regions, located in the Sahara Desert, are characterized by a tropical desert climate with great dry air, high daytime temperatures and sharp daily temperature fluctuations (over 20 °). The southern regions of the Sahel zone are characterized by a variable-humid tropical climate with one rainy season lasting from two to four months. Here, too, there are great differences in day and night temperatures, and the midday heat can reach 40 ° C.

If in the Sahara there is generally less than 100 mm of precipitation per year and there are areas where it does not rain at all for several years, then in the Sahel region the average annual rainfall in the north does not exceed 300 mm, and in the south, at the latitude of Tahua and Niamey, sometimes it grows to 400–600 mm.

In the extreme southwest of Niger, near the border with the Republic of Benin, the climate is more humid. The average annual rainfall is over 800 mm, and the rainy season lasts 5–7 months.

The change of seasons and the amount of precipitation depend on the wind patterns. In April - June, a hot dry wind prevails - harmatan, blowing from the Sahara. In July - August, it is replaced by the southwestern monsoon, bringing in more humid air from the Atlantic Ocean.

Frequent droughts are causing great damage to agriculture in Niger. In 1968-1974, a severe drought broke out throughout the country, accompanied by the loss of crops and livestock.

The country's largest river, the Niger, is powered by heavy rainfall in its upper reaches. Flooding in the area of the city of Niamey occurs in late January - early February. To the south, near the city of Gaya, two floods are expressed - in February and September-October. The Niger Valley is the country's most important agricultural region, where the river's waters are widely used for irrigation.

Niger owns a part of the water area of Lake Chad, which often changes the shape of the shores and the water level. The depths range from 1 to 4 m, depending on the amount of precipitation and the volume of river flow. The highest level is in January, the lowest is in July. The lake is rich in fish, but its shores, heavily overgrown with grasses and bushes, are muddy and inaccessible.

The bulk of Niger's territory is located in the desert zone and only 1/4 in the savannah zone. In the north, in the Tenere desert and on the Air, Jado and other plateaus, only after the rains a bright carpet of ephemeral herbaceous plants appears, which lasts for several weeks and then dries up. Palm trees grow in the oases - date and dum.

The savannahs of the Sahel are dominated by grasses and other grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and rare trees. The natural vegetation here suffers greatly from livestock grazing.

As you move south, more trees are found in the savannas, especially acacias with umbrella crowns. Baobabs, palms (dum, etc.) also grow, and bearded vulture and elephant grass predominate among the herbs. In the extreme southwest, woody vegetation begins to dominate, large trees with lush green crowns appear: bombax (cotton tree), mango with bright orange fruits, papaya and palm trees. Bamboos grow along the rivers.

In the deserts of Niger, there are numerous rodents, fennec fox, oryx and addax antelopes. Graceful gazelles, many predators (cheetah, hyena, jackal) live in the vastness of savannahs. The world of birds is rich: there are ostriches, eagles, bald vultures, kites.

In the southern savannah, giraffes, antelopes and wild boars have been preserved in some places of large mammals, and lions are among predators. Large herds of elephants are found on the right bank of the Niger and near Lake Chad. Hippos and crocodiles are found in the rivers. Birds are especially numerous: ducks, geese, waders, herons, cranes, ibises, storks, black marabou. There are many migratory species among them. There are many insects, especially termites and locusts.

Natural reserves have been established in the area of the Air plateau and the Tener desert.

Population.

One of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa, the average population density is 9.1 people. for 1 sq. km (2002). The average annual population growth is 3.5%. Niger is one of the countries with a high birth rate (48.3 per 1000 people), the mortality rate is 21.33 per 1000 people. The infant mortality rate (278 per 1000 newborns) is one of the highest in the world. The average age of the population is 16.25 years. 47.3% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 2.1%. Life expectancy - 42.13 years (men - 42.46, women - 41.8). (All figures are in 2005 estimates).

Niger is a multi-ethnic state. The African population of the country belongs to over 20 ethnic groups. The most numerous peoples are: Hausa (56%), Jerma (22%), Fulbe (8.5), Tuareg (8%) and Kanuri (4.3%). Arabs, French (about 1200 people) and other peoples also live on the territory of the country. Of the local languages, the most widespread languages are Hausa, Jerma, Fululde, Kanuri and Tamashek.

The rural population is approx. 80%, urban - approx. 20% (2002). Large cities - Zinder (185.1 thousand people), Maradi (172.9 thousand people) and Tahua (87.7 thousand people) - 2001.

Labor migration of Nigerians to Benin, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Togo is noted.

Religions.

95% of the population are Muslims (profess Sunni Islam), 4.5% are adherents of traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), 0.5% are Christians (the vast majority of Catholics) - 2004. The spread of Islam began in the 9th and 11th centuries. n. NS. The Sufi order (tarikat) Tijaniyya is especially influential among Muslims. The Senusiya and Hamaliya tariqas are also influential.

PUBLIC STRUCTURE AND POLICY

State structure.

Niger is a presidential republic. The constitution is in force, approved by a referendum on July 18, 1999 and entered into force on August 9, 1999. The head of state is the president, who is elected by universal direct and secret ballot for a 5-year term. Legislative power is exercised by a unicameral parliament (National Assembly), which consists of 113 deputies, elected by universal direct and secret ballot. His term of office is 5 years.

President - Tandja Mamadu (Mamadou Tandja). Elected December 4, 2004. Previously elected to this post on November 24, 1999.

The national flag is a rectangular panel consisting of three horizontal stripes of equal width, orange (above), white and green. In the center of the white stripe there is an image of a small orange disc, which symbolizes the sun.

Administrative device.

The country is divided into 7 departments and a metropolitan municipality.

The judicial system.

Based on French civil law, Sharia and customary law also applies. The Supreme, High, Appellate Courts and the State Security Court function.

Armed Forces and Defense.

National Armed Forces created in August 1961. In 2002 they numbered 5.3 thousand people. (army - 5.2 thousand people, air force - 100 people). Paramilitary formations numbering 5.4 thousand people. consist of the gendarmerie (1.4 thousand people), the republican guard (2.5 thousand people) and the police (1.5 thousand people). Military service lasts two years. Defense spending is $ 33.3 million (1.1% of GDP) - 2004.

Foreign policy.

It is based on the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partners are France and Nigeria. Supporting the concept of strengthening security in the Sahara-Sahel zone, Niger regularly participates in high-level meetings with the rest of the Sahel-Sahel states - Libya, Burkina Faso and Mali. Good-neighborly relations with Algeria are developing. Interstate relations with Cote d'Ivoire are complicated due to the problem of the influx of refugees from this country.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Niger were established on February 17, 1972. Bilateral cooperation was carried out mainly in the field of health care and the training of national personnel for Niger (until 2003, 440 Nigerians were educated in the universities of the USSR / Russia). In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the Soviet Union. Consultations are regularly held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Niger and the Russian Federation. Russian doctors work in the country under private contracts.

Political organizations.

A multi-party system has developed in the country (about 30 political parties are registered). The most influential of them are:

– « National Movement for a Development Society - Nassara», NDOR - Nassara(Movement national pour une société de développement - Nassara, MNSD - Nassara), chairman - Hamidou Sekou, general. Sec. - Hama Amadou. The ruling party, fundamentals. August 2, 1988. Until 1991, it was called the National Movement for a Development Society;

– « Democratic and social convention», DSK(Convention démocratique et sociale, CDS), chaired. - Uthman Mahaman (Mahamane Ousmane). Party created. In 1991;

– « Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism», NPDS(Parti nigérien pour la démocratie et le socialisme, PNDS), gen. Sec to Mahamadou Issoufou;

– « Niger Social Democratic Party», NSDP(Parti social-démocrate nigérien, PSDN), leader - Issaka Labo;

– « Niger Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress”, (Alliance nigérienne pour la démocratie et le atriots social, ANDP), leader - Moumouni Djermakoye. Basics party. In 1990;

– « Uniting for Democracy and Progress», ODP(Rassemblement pour la démocratie et le atriots, RDP), chairman. - Algabid Hamid (Hamid Algabid), gene. Sec. - Mahamane Souley Labi;

– « Party for National Union and Development», NDPR(Parti pour l "unité nationale et le développement, PUND), leader - Akoli Daouel;

– « Social Democratic Association», FROM TO(Rassemblement social démocratique, RSD), chairman. - Chef Amadou (Amadou Cheiffou);

– « Union of Democratic and Progressive Patriots», SDPP(Union des atriots démocratiques et progressistes, UPDP), chairman. - André Salifou.

Trade union associations.

Union des Syndicats des Travailleurs du Niger, USTN. Created in 1960, it has 28 thousand members. Secretary General - Mahamane Mansour.

ECONOMY

Niger is an agricultural country. Ranks second (after Sierra Leone) in the world in terms of poverty. According to UN data approx. 3.5 million people suffer from hunger. The annual income of 75% of the population is 365 USD, of which 35% live below the poverty line. 40% of the population (mostly in rural areas) suffers from chronic malnutrition.

The country's economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid. The main financial donors are France, the IMF, Japan (in 1997, it provided Niger with gratuitous aid in the amount of 300 million yen for the development of the country's agricultural sector). Niger receives financial assistance from the IMF under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program for the poorest countries with high external indebtedness. In April 2004, the IMF wrote off a debt of $ 663.1 million to Niger. In February 2005, the Fund decided to provide Niger with a loan in the amount of US $ 10 million for the implementation of the economic development program, calculated until 2008. At the same time, the IMF put forward the requirement to the government of Niger to use the funds received to fight poverty and ensure annual GDP growth of 4 %. In 2004, the GDP was $ 9.7 billion, and its growth was 3.5%.

Labor resources.

The economically active population is 5.17 million. (2001, estimate).

Agriculture.

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 39% (2001), it employs 85% of the population (2005, estimate). 3.54% of the land is cultivated (2001). Agricultural production is almost entirely dependent on the amount of rainfall. The annual growth of production in the agricultural sector is approx. 2%. The main export crops are peanuts and vegetables. Oranges, bananas, legumes, corn, millet, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, cotton and tobacco are also grown. Nomadic animal husbandry is well developed (breeding of camels, horses, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats). The fish catch in 2000 amounted to 16.27 thousand tons.

Industry.

Share in GDP - 17% (2001). The main industries are mining and manufacturing. Niger is the third largest uranium producer in the world (after Canada and Australia). Its share in the country's export is constantly decreasing, in 2002 it was 32% (in 1990 - 60%). Coal and gold are also mined. There are enterprises for the processing of agricultural products, including the production of peanut butter, flour and beer. There are small factories in the textile and leather industries.

International trade.

The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2002 imports (in US dollars) were 400 million and exports were 280 million. The main imports are grain, foodstuffs, machinery and oil. Main import partners: France (17.4%), Ivory Coast (11.3%), Italy (8.4%), Nigeria (7.3%), Germany (6.5%), USA (5 , 5%) and China (4.8%) - 2004. The main export goods are uranium ore, livestock, livestock products and vegetables. The main export partners are France (47.1%, is the main importer of Nigerian uranium), Nigeria (22.7%), Japan (8.6%) and the USA (5.4%) - 2004.

Energy.

Electricity consumption is increasing due to uranium mining. Electricity production partially meets domestic needs. Its production in 2002 amounted to 266.2 million kilowatt-hours, and imports (from Nigeria) - 80 million kilowatt-hours. Electricity is generated at thermal power plants operating on diesel fuel.

Transport.

The transport network is not well developed. There are no railways. The total length of motor roads is 14 thousand km, including 3.62 thousand km with hard surface (2000, estimate). Navigation along the Niger river has been established, the length of waterways is 300 km. There are 27 airports and airstrips (9 of them have a hard surface) - 2004. International airports are located in the cities of Niamey and Agadez.

Finance and credit.

The monetary unit is the CFA franc (XOF), consisting of 100 centimes. In December 2004, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 528.3 XOF.

Tourism.

It has been developing since the 1960s. Foreign tourists are attracted by the variety of natural landscapes, the possibility of traveling on pies along the Niger River, as well as the richness and originality of the culture of local peoples. In 1995, 66.2 thousand tourists from the USA, European countries (mainly from France) and Africa visited the country. The further development of the tourism industry was negatively affected by the political instability of the middle. 1990s. In 1999, 42.4 thousand foreign tourists arrived. Tourism income was $ 24 million (1997 - $ 18 million).

Sightseeing: National Museum in the capital, oases of the Aira mountain plateau, adobe mosque in Agadez (16th century), rock paintings in the Jado and Mammanet mountains (more than 5 thousand images).

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

By the time of independence, 99% of the country's population was illiterate. An 8-year education is officially compulsory. Children receive primary education (6 years) at the age of 7-13. Secondary (7 years old) starts at the age of 13 and goes in two stages - 4 and 3 years. Less than 25% of children of the corresponding age regularly attend primary school, and approx. 5%. (2005). There are Koranic Islamic schools, including private ones. Since 1974, increased attention has been paid to the development of Islamic education. The higher education system includes the University. Abdu Mumouni Diopa (Niamey, opened 1973, under state control), Islamic University of West Africa (Sai, opened 1987) and the College of Management. In 2002 at 8 faculties and departments of the University. A. Diopa (the current name has been since 1999) employed 279 teachers and trained 5.85 thousand students. Niger has extremely low literacy rates - 17.6% (25.8% of men and 9.7% of women) - 2003.

Healthcare.

The rate of AIDS morbidity is 1.2% (2003). In 2003, there were 70 thousand AIDS and HIV-infected people, 4.8 thousand people died. In the UN report on the humanitarian development of the planet in 2001, Niger ranked 174th.

Architecture.

In the south and east of the country, the traditional dwellings of the peoples engaged in agriculture (Hausa, Jerma, Songai) are round adobe or thatched huts. Their roof is made of straw and has a conical shape. Next to the dwelling, granaries covered with a thatched roof are being built - clay vessels reaching up to 3 m in height. Dwellings of nomadic peoples (Tuareg and Fulbe) - round or rectangular tents and tents made of mats, covered with leather.

In modern cities, houses are built from bricks and reinforced concrete structures.

Fine arts and crafts.

On the territory of the Air and Jado mountain ranges, rock paintings (schematic and naturalistic images of wild animals, people, and hunting scenes) of the Neolithic era have been preserved. The most ancient of them date back to 9-8 millennia BC. NS. In 1985, in the village of Bura (100 km from the capital), two terracotta figurines were found, known as the "Riders of the Bora". According to experts, the value of the statuettes lies in the fact that their earlier dating somewhat changes the generally accepted point of view on the process of settling the African continent.

Contemporary fine arts began to develop after the country gained independence. Artists - Boubakar Bureima, Riss Ickx.

Pottery, leatherworking, blacksmithing, weaving, weaving, and jewelry are developed from crafts and artistic trades. Outside Niger, Tuareg and Fulbe jewelry, Jerma weaving, and painting of calabash (gourd vessels) of the Hausa people are known. The works of Nigerian artists and crafts of art craftsmen are widely represented in the exposition of the National Museum of Niger (Niamey, founded in 1959).

There is an acute problem of smuggling archaeological finds from Niger (primarily to France).

Literature.

The birth of national literature began in the 1950s. It is based on the rich traditions of oral creativity (myths, songs, proverbs and fairy tales) of local peoples. The first most important national writer is Bubu Hama. Other famous writers and playwrights are Amadou Usman, Bureima Ada, Diado Amadou, Ida Umaru. Poets - Abdulay Mamani, Bube Zume, Maman Garba. The works of some Nigerian writers were published in France.

Music and theater.

National music has a long tradition. It was formed on the basis of the musical art of local peoples and is closely related to the activities of the griots (the common name for professional storytellers and musicians-singers in West Africa). Rich musical instruments - algaita (oboe), various drums (kalangu, karangazhi, harre, ettebel), lutes (gothe, inzag, kuntigi, molo), rattles (jan-jama, dawn), horns and rattles (dombo, quaria) and flutes (saisei, sareua, tasinsak). Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely related to the daily life of local people. The National Ensemble of Niger came on tour to the USSR in 1981. In February 2004, several folklore groups and musical groups from Niger took part in the 1st International Festival of Music of Nomadic Peoples, which was held in Nouakchott (Mauritania). Famous musicians - Maman Garba, Dan Gurmu (griot).

Theatrical performances of itinerant "comedians" using wooden puppets were often held on Muslim holidays. Amateur theater groups were founded in educational institutions and cultural centers in the 1950s. Playwrights - Mahaman Dandobi, Damagaram A. Salif, Bubu Hama.

Cinema.

Niger is one of the first states on the African continent to have a national cinema. The first film, The Wedding, was directed by Mustafa Alassan in 1962. Umar Ganda made a great contribution to the development of national cinema. Other filmmakers are Mussa Alzuma, Mustafa Diop, Jingare Maiga, Abdul Kerim Seini. Cinematographers of the country were regular participants in the Moscow and Tashkent film festivals; in 1980, the Niger Cinema Week was held in Moscow.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.

Published in French: Government daily Le Sahel, Government Gazette Journal Officiel de la République du Niger - Biweekly Official Gazette of the Republic of Niger , the independent weekly Le Républicain (Republican) and the quarterly magazine Nigerama. The national news agency "Niger Press Agency" (Agence Nigérienne de Presse, ANP) has been operating since 1987. The State Broadcasting Service has been operating since 1958. Regular radio broadcasts are broadcast in French and Arabic, as well as in local languages - Jerma, Gourmandche, Kanuri, Tamashek, fullda and Hausa. Television began operating on April 15, 1979, broadcasts daily. In 2002, there were 15 thousand Internet users.

HISTORY

Pre-colonial and colonial periods of development.

Before the establishment of French power at the end of the 19th century. Niger's history has included tribal migrations, conflicts between aliens and indigenous populations, the rise and fall of states, and rivalries between them. In the 11th century. Tuaregs, nomadic pastoralists of Berber origin, who came from North Africa, settled in the area of the Air plateau. They assimilated part of the Hausa farmers, who then lived in the most elevated regions of the plateau, and pushed the rest to the south to the territory located between the modern cities of Tahua and Zinder. Since the 14th century. Hausa created their city-states on the territory of southern Niger. The confederation formed by the Tuaregs (Sultanate of Air) was rather amorphous, but one of its rulers, Yusuf, founded the city of Agadez, which in 1430 became the capital of Air (hence the name "Sultanate of Agadez"). In the 16th century. the army of the Songhai state (centered in Gao) captured vast areas of western and central Niger, including the Sultanate of Agadez. Agadez flourished due to the fact that there crossed the caravan routes connecting the capital of Songhai, the city of Gao on the Niger River with Tripolitania and Egypt.

After the conquest of Songhai by Moroccan troops in 1591, control over part of the Air region and the Hausa lands in the southeast, including Zinder, established the state of Bornu with its capital at Ngazargama (in the territory of modern Nigeria). The other Hausa, who created the city-states of Gobir, Katsina and Dauru and withstood the onslaught of the Songhai and Kebbi states, managed to maintain their independence, albeit very fragile. Frequent feuds and clashes with other Hausan states did not prevent these city-states from flourishing thanks to developed agriculture and crafts, as well as participation in the trans-Saharan trade.

At the beginning of the 17th century. many Jerma settlers from the Songhai state settled east of the Niger River and became sedentary farmers. At the same time, a new wave of Tuaregs appeared on the territory of Niger, which moved southward to the Niger River. Other Tuareg groups were restored in the 18th century. their independence and moved to the west with the aim of raiding the lands of the former state of Songhai. At the beginning of the 19th century. The Hausan lands and western Bornu became the scene of the holy war of jihad, led by the Muslim theologian and reformer Osman dan Fodio, an ethnic Fulbe. He succeeded in establishing Fulbe rule in most of northern Nigeria and in the southern regions of Niger. The state of Bornu, revived under the leadership of the Muslim preacher and commander al-Kanemi, repelled the onslaught of the Fulbe and controlled the southeastern part of Niger until it appeared there at the end of the 19th century. the Sudanese conqueror Rabbah.

When in the 19th century. the first European travelers appeared in Niger, they found this region in a state of complete anarchy and saw disintegrating state formations and small isolated settlements, whose inhabitants could not defend themselves from aggressive warlike neighbors. In 1806, the Scottish traveler Mungo Park went down the Niger River, and in 1822 the Scotsman Hugh Clapperton and the Englishman Dixon Denem set off from Tripoli through the Sahara and reached Lake Chad. In 1853-1855, the German explorer Heinrich Barth, who was in the British service, went with his expedition from the Niger River to Lake Chad. In 1870, another German explorer, Gustav Nachtigall, crossed the Sahara from the Bilma oasis to Ngigmi near Lake Chad. Although there were no French among these researchers, at the international Berlin conference of 1884-1885 on the division of Africa, the area of the upper reaches of the Niger was declared a zone of French interests. In 1890, representatives of Great Britain and France came to an agreement on the establishment of a demarcation line between the zones of interests of Great Britain and France, which ran from the city of Sai on the Niger River to Garoua on Lake Chad. In 1898 and 1904, this border was clarified taking into account the results of new research and "de facto occupation". In 1891–1892, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Montey, on behalf of the French government, surveyed the territory of this region, as a result of which, after 1897, a number of French military posts were created between the Niger River and Lake Chad. Due to the stubborn resistance of the Tuaregs to the French colonial expansion, Agadez was captured only in 1904. The Tuaregs did not accept the loss of independence and during the First World War they raised an uprising against the French authorities, which was suppressed after the war, but the French could not establish effective control over nomads Tuareg. In addition, the French faced fierce resistance from the tuba nomads in the eastern part of Niger, which they managed to break only in 1922.

In 1900, the "military autonomous territory of Zinder" was created (in 1910 it was transformed into the "military territory of Niger"), which was incorporated into the Upper Senegal-Niger colony, which was part of French West Africa (FZA). In 1922, the territory of Niger was set aside as a separate colony as part of the FZA. In 1926 the administrative center of the colony was moved from Zinder to Niamey.

Before the introduction of the French constitution of 1946, there were no modern political organizations in Niger. The constitution provided for the representation of Africans in the local government of the colonies, which became "overseas territories" and were also represented in the French National Assembly. In 1946, the first political party in Niger, the Niger Progressive Party (NPP), was created, which became one of the sections of the African Democratic Union (ADO), which operated in all colonies of the FZA. Pretty soon, the NPP began to lose its authority, and in 1951 there was a split in it, caused by the reluctance of the left wing, led by the radical trade union leader Jibo Bakari, to follow the political line of part of the DOA leadership to refuse to cooperate with the French Communist Party. In 1957, D. Bakari created a new party in opposition to the NPP - the Niger Democratic Union (since 1958 - Sawaba). In the first elections in 1957 after the introduction of a law granting "overseas territories" greater autonomy, Bakari's party won the majority of seats in Niger's parliament, and he himself took over as prime minister. During the campaign on the eve of the referendum on the draft French constitution of 1958, in which the population of the French colonies in Africa was to vote either to join the French Community or to sever all ties with the metropolis, Savaba advocated the complete independence of Niger. In this situation, the NPP, together with the leaders and other political forces, formed the coalition "Union for the Franco-African Community". In a referendum, the results of which, however, are considered controversial, 78% of the votes were cast in favor of Niger's entry into the French Community. The new government was headed by the leader of the NPP Amani Diori. In the parliamentary elections in December 1958, the NPP won the majority of the seats in the National Assembly. The following year, the Sawaba party was banned, the deputies on its list were expelled from parliament, and the party leaders were expelled from Niger.

A period of independent development.

After the proclamation of the independence of Niger in August 1960, A. Diori became the country's president, in 1965 and 1970 he was re-elected to a new term. Diori's conservative regime maintained close political and economic ties with France. Throughout the 1960s, there were clashes between the supporters of the Sawaba party and the state forces of law and order. Niger suffered more severely than other countries in the Sahel zone from the 1969-1974 drought, which caused widespread famine. The number of livestock has sharply decreased in the country. After information spread that foreign aid did not reach the starving population due to the inefficiency and corruption of the authorities, the authority of the Diori regime was sharply shaken. In April 1974 he was overthrown in a military coup. Power passed to the Supreme Military Council (Air Force), headed by Lieutenant Colonel Seini Kunche. The end of the drought and the rise in world uranium prices helped the military government make some progress in rebuilding the economy, although the country was still mired in poverty. Niger's military leadership sought to maintain close ties with France, and when Libya invaded neighboring Chad in 1980, it began to strengthen relations with Arab countries and West African states.

Since 1989, power in Niger has passed into the hands of Ali Saibu, the chief of staff of the armed forces. He introduced a new constitution allowing for a multi-party system and founded the National Development Society Movement (Nassara). In 1989, the constitution was suspended and the National Assembly was dissolved. Amadou Chaffu became the head of the interim government, who began to prepare the parliamentary and presidential elections. In 1993, for the first time, a representative of the Hausa people, Mahaman Usman, was elected president of the country, who held this post until January 1996, when a coup d'etat took place. The Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament were removed from their posts. The Council of National Reconciliation (SNP) was created, headed by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces I. Barre Mainasara. The new constitution, introduced on May 22, 1996, banned the activities of political parties. In July 1996, Minasara was elected president of the country, and in November 1996, parliamentary elections were held.

In early 1999, elections were held for parliament and local authorities. However, their results in February were annulled by the Supreme Court, as they did not suit the country's leadership (many representatives of opposition parties emerged victorious). Dissatisfaction with the ruling regime was ripening in the country. And on April 9, Minasara was killed. The head of state and chairman of the SNP was appointed the head of the presidential guard, Major Daouda Malam Vanke (a native of the Hausa people).

Niger in the early 21st century

The 1999 presidential elections were held in two rounds - October 17 and November 24. Seven candidates took part in the first round; in the second, the struggle for the presidency unfolded between the candidate from the National Movement for Development Society - Nassara (NDOR - Nassara) party Mamadou Tandja and Mahamadu Issoufu, the leader of the Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism (NPDS ). M. Tandja was elected President of the country, receiving 59.89% of the votes.

In the parliamentary elections held on November 24, 1999, the party "NDOR - Nassara" also won a convincing victory (38 out of 86 seats in the National Assembly).

In 2000, the government embarked on a two-year program of intensive economic reforms. The program envisaged, first of all, the privatization and re-profiling of state-owned enterprises, as well as the reduction of budgetary spending on social needs. Until 2003, real GDP was negative.

In the 2004 presidential elections, held in two rounds (November 16 and December 4), Tandja won again. In the second round of elections, his political opponent was M. Issufu.

In the elections to the National Assembly held on December 4, 2004, the NDOR-Nassara party won a landslide victory (47 out of 113 seats). The Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism (NPDS) won 25 seats, the Democratic and Social Convention (DSK) 22 seats, the remaining 19 seats went to the SDO, ODP, Niger Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress and NSDP. The chairman of the DSK Mahaman Usman was elected the chairman of the parliament.

By the summer of 2005, an extremely difficult situation had developed in the country: due to a prolonged drought, as well as an invasion of locusts that destroyed crops, famine began. According to UN estimates, 2.5 million people in Nigeria are in urgent need of food aid. A particularly critical situation has developed in the northwestern regions of the country. France was the first to provide food aid under the auspices of the UN: in July, a consignment of 18 tons of humanitarian supplies was sent to Niger. The total amount of French assistance to Niger will be approx. 5 million euros (together with an additional food aid of 1.5 million euros). Germany also sent a large shipment of food in July. Nigeria allocated 1 thousand tons of grain to help the starving people in Niger.

In January 2005, President Tandja was elected Chairman of ECOWAS. The latest changes in the government were made on February 12, 2005. In December 2005, the Games of the Francophone Countries will be held in Niamey. For the preparation of sporting events, France has allocated more than 10 million euros to Niger for the development of the infrastructure of the capital.

M., "Science", 1989
Tropical Africa: From Authoritarianism to Political Pluralism? M., Publishing company "Eastern Literature" RAS, 1996
Decalo, S. Historical Dictionary of Niger. 3 rd Edn... Metuchen, NJ, Scarecrow Press, 1996
The World of Learning 2003, 53 rd Edition... L.-N.Y .: Europa Publications, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara... 2004. L.-N.Y .: Europa Publications, 2003
African countries and Russia. Directory... M., 2004

Number	City (fr.)	Population
Number	City (fr.)	1977 year	1988 year	2001 year	2007 year
1.	Niamey	233 414	391 876	674 950	829 255
2.	Zinder	53 914	119 827	170 574	202 072
3.	Maradi	44 458	110 005	147 038	171 603
4.	Agadez	20 643	49 424	76 957	94 682
5.	Arlit	10 386	32 272	67 398	92 452
6.	Tahoua	31 252	49 948	72 446	84 558
7.	Dosso	16 959	25 695	43 293	53 278
8.	Birni N'Konni	16 286	29 034	42 897	50 813
9.	Tessaoua	10 590	19 737	31 276	38 174
10.	Gaya	8 709	14 868	27 856	35 973
11.	Dogondoutchi	14 629	20 407	28 951	33 216
12.	Diffa	4 253	13 387	23 233	30 525
13.	Ayorou	12 462	…	…	27 370
14.	Madaoua	14 988	11 649	21 749	26 555
15.	Mayahi	3 292	5 723	16 740	25 589
16.	Birni N'Gaouré	10 479	…	…	25 029
17.	Tera	8 761	12 313	18 872	22 275
18.	Mirria	8 420	13 225	18 783	21 721
19.	Tibiri	7 283	15 000	…	21 218
20.	Tillabéri	5 270	8 377	16 181	21 011
21.	Magaria	7 856	11 723	17 444	20 455
22.	Dakoro	10 688	14 577	18 551	20 400
23.	N'Guigmi	8 267	9 537	15 807	19 036
24.	Matameye	7 085	11 151	15 376	17 587
25.	Illéla	8 299	11 699	15 463	17 281



History

Symbols

Politics

Military establishment

Geography

Nature

Society

Economy

Communication and media

Culture





Dependent territories



Excerpt from Niger Cities - Yes, this Austrian prince was not a fool who built a castle here. Nice place. What are you not eating, gentlemen? - said Nesvitsky. - I humbly thank you, prince, - answered one of the officers, talking with pleasure with such an important staff official. - Beautiful place. We passed the park itself, saw two deer, and what a wonderful house! “Look, prince,” said another, who really wanted to take another pie, but was ashamed, and who therefore pretended to look around the area, “look, our infantrymen have already got there. Over there, on a meadow, behind the village, three are dragging something. "They're going to take this palace," he said with visible approval. - And then, and then, - said Nesvitsky. “No, but what I would like,” he added, chewing a pie in his beautiful wet mouth, “is to get over there. He pointed to a monastery with towers visible on the mountain. He smiled, his eyes narrowed and lit up. - But it would be good, gentlemen! The officers laughed. - If only to scare these nuns. There are Italian women, they say, there are young ones. Indeed, I would give five years of my life! “They’re bored, after all,” said the bolder officer, laughing. Meanwhile the officer of the suite, standing in front, was pointing something out to the general; the general looked through the telescope. - Well, it is, it is, - the general said angrily, lowering the pipe from his eyes and shrugging his shoulders, - it is, they will start hitting the crossing. And why are they lingering there? On the other side, the enemy and his battery were visible with the naked eye, from which a milky white smoke appeared. A distant shot rang out in the wake of the smoke, and it was clear how our troops hurried across the crossing. Nesvitsky, panting, got up and, smiling, went up to the general. - Would you like to have a snack for your Excellency? - he said. - It's not a good thing, - said the general, without answering him, - ours hesitated. - Shouldn't I go, Your Excellency? - said Nesvitsky. “Yes, go, please,” the general said, repeating what was already ordered in detail, “and tell the hussars to cross the last and light the bridge, as I ordered, so that the combustible materials on the bridge are still examined. “Very well,” answered Nesvitsky. He called a Cossack with a horse, ordered to remove his purse and flask, and easily threw his heavy body onto the saddle. “Really, I'll go to the nuns,” he said to the officers, who looked at him with a smile, and drove along the winding path downhill. - Noot ka, where he will report, captain, stop ka! - said the general, referring to the gunner. - Get rid of boredom. - Servant to the guns! - commanded the officer. And a minute later the gunners merrily ran out of the fires and loaded them. - First! - the command was heard. The 1st number bounced briskly. Metallically, deafening, the gun rang, and over the heads of all our people under the mountain, whistling, a grenade flew and, not reaching the enemy far, showed the place of its fall with a smoke and burst.

NIGER, Republic of Niger. State in West Africa.
The capital is Niamey (700 thousand people - 2002).
Territory - 1.267 million sq. km.
Administrative divisions - 7 departments and the metropolitan municipal district.
Population - 12.5 million people. (2005, estimate).
The official language is French.
Religion - Islam, traditional African beliefs and Christianity.
The monetary unit is the CFA franc.

Niger has been a member of the UN since 1960, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, the Common Afro-Mauritius Organization (OCAM) since 1965, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Economic and Monetary Union of West African States (UEMOA) since 1994 and the International Organization of Francophonie (OIC).

The eastern part of Cala drops abruptly towards the vast Tenere Desert, dominated by mobile dunes that form dune ridges and massifs.

In the north of Niger, there are the Mangeni and Jado plateaus, dissected by deep canyons. The average heights of the plateau are 800-900 m (the highest point is 1054 m on the Mangeni plateau).

The vast northern regions, located in the Sahara Desert, are characterized by a tropical desert climate with great dry air, high daytime temperatures and sharp daily temperature fluctuations (more than 20 °). The southern regions of the Sahel zone are characterized by a variable-humid tropical climate with one rainy season lasting from two to four months. Here, too, there are great differences in day and night temperatures, and the midday heat can reach 40 ° C.

In the extreme southwest of Niger, near the border with the Republic of Benin, the climate is more humid. The average annual rainfall is over 800 mm, and the rainy season lasts 5–7 months.

Frequent droughts are causing great damage to agriculture in Niger. In 1968-1974, a severe drought broke out throughout the country, accompanied by the loss of crops and livestock.

The savannahs of the Sahel are dominated by grasses and other grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and rare trees. The natural vegetation here suffers greatly from livestock grazing.

Natural reserves have been established in the area of the Air plateau and the Tener desert.

Capital - Niamey

Population

TYPICAL VILLAGE HOUSE in Niger

The rural population is approx. 80%, urban - approx. 20% (2002). Large cities - Zinder (185.1 thousand people), Maradi (172.9 thousand people) and Tahua (87.7 thousand people) - 2001.

Labor migration of Nigerians to Benin, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Togo is noted.

Religions... 95% of the population are Muslims (profess Sunni Islam), 4.5% are adherents of traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), 0.5% are Christians (the vast majority of Catholics) - 2004. The spread of Islam began in the 9th and 11th centuries. n. NS. The Sufi order (tarikat) Tijaniyya is especially influential among Muslims. The Senusiya and Hamaliya tariqas are also influential.

STATE STRUCTURE

Administrative device... The country is divided into 7 departments and a metropolitan municipality.

Judicial system... Based on French civil law, Sharia and customary law also applies. The Supreme, High, Appellate Courts and the State Security Court function.

Military establishment and defense. The national armed forces were created in August 1961. In 2002 they numbered 5,300 people. (army - 5.2 thousand people, air force - 100 people). Paramilitary formations numbering 5.4 thousand people. consist of the gendarmerie (1.4 thousand people), the republican guard (2.5 thousand people) and the police (1.5 thousand people). Military service lasts two years. Defense spending is $ 33.3 million (1.1% of GDP) - 2004.

Foreign policy... It is based on the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partners are France and Nigeria. Supporting the concept of strengthening security in the Sahara-Sahel zone, Niger regularly participates in high-level meetings with the rest of the Sahel-Sahel states - Libya, Burkina Faso and Mali. Good-neighborly relations with Algeria are developing. Interstate relations with Cote d'Ivoire are complicated due to the problem of the influx of refugees from this country.

ECONOMY

Agriculture... The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 39% (2001), it employs 85% of the population (2005, estimate). 3.54% of the land is cultivated (2001). Agricultural production is almost entirely dependent on the amount of rainfall. The annual growth of production in the agricultural sector is approx. 2%. The main export crops are peanuts and vegetables. Oranges, bananas, legumes, corn, millet, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, cotton and tobacco are also grown. Nomadic animal husbandry is well developed (breeding of camels, horses, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats). The fish catch in 2000 amounted to 16.27 thousand tons.

GRAIN STORAGE

Industry... Share in GDP - 17% (2001). The main industries are mining and manufacturing. Niger is the third largest uranium producer in the world (after Canada and Australia). Its share in the country's export is constantly decreasing, in 2002 it was 32% (in 1990 - 60%). Coal and gold are also mined. There are enterprises for the processing of agricultural products, including the production of peanut butter, flour and beer. There are small factories in the textile and leather industries.

International trade... The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2002 imports (in US dollars) were 400 million and exports were 280 million. The main imports are grain, foodstuffs, machinery and oil. Main import partners: France (17.4%), Ivory Coast (11.3%), Italy (8.4%), Nigeria (7.3%), Germany (6.5%), USA (5 , 5%) and China (4.8%) - 2004. The main export goods are uranium ore, livestock, livestock products and vegetables. The main export partners are France (47.1%, is the main importer of Nigerian uranium), Nigeria (22.7%), Japan (8.6%) and the USA (5.4%) - 2004.

Energy... Electricity consumption is increasing due to uranium mining. Electricity production partially meets domestic needs. Its production in 2002 amounted to 266.2 million kilowatt-hours, and imports (from Nigeria) - 80 million kilowatt-hours. Electricity is generated at thermal power plants operating on diesel fuel.

Transport... The transport network is not well developed. There are no railways. The total length of motor roads is 14 thousand km, including 3.62 thousand km with hard surface (2000, estimate). Navigation along the Niger river has been established, the length of waterways is 300 km. There are 27 airports and airstrips (9 of them have a hard surface) - 2004. International airports are located in the cities of Niamey and Agadez.

SOCIETY

Architecture... In the south and east of the country, the traditional dwellings of the peoples engaged in agriculture (Hausa, Jerma, Songai) are round adobe or thatched huts. Their roof is made of straw and has a conical shape. Next to the dwelling, granaries covered with a thatched roof are being built - clay vessels reaching up to 3 m in height. Dwellings of nomadic peoples (Tuareg and Fulbe) - round or rectangular tents and tents made of mats, covered with leather.

In modern cities, houses are built from bricks and reinforced concrete structures.

Niger on Africa map
(all pictures are clickable)

Geographical position

Niger is a state in West Africa. It shares borders with Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso; has no outlet to the sea. Most of the country's territory is located on the plains, the northern regions are occupied by the high rocky plateaus of the Sahara Desert. Niger is the largest country in the region, with an area of about 1.3 million km².

The climate is tropical. In most of the country, there is almost no precipitation, a small amount falls only in the extreme southwestern regions, but even here their annual rate does not exceed 100 mm, and only in the areas bordering Benin and Burkina Faso, where the climate is replaced by subequatorial, does it fall up to 800 mm of precipitation per year. The climate of Niger is characterized by sharp daily temperature fluctuations: during the day the average temperature is + 30-40 ° C, and at night, especially in the desert, frosts are possible.

Flora and fauna

The flora of Niger is represented by semi-desert vegetation. Date palms are common in the oases.

Among the animals in the sands of the Sahara, you can find only jerboas, sand foxes and antelopes. In the southern regions, giraffes, elephants, antelopes and warthogs are found.

State structure

Niger Map

But to the state structure, Niger is a presidential republic. The legislature is parliament. Geographically, the country is divided into 8 departments and a metropolitan area. The local currency is the CFA franc. The capital is the city of Niamey.

Population

The population is about 18 million people. These are mainly representatives of various peoples of the Niger-Congo and Songhai language groups, as well as the Tuareg Berber tribes living in the north of the state. The official language is French, in everyday communication the languages of Songhai, Bantu, etc. are used. Up to 80% of believers are Muslims, the rest remain adherence to ancient traditional beliefs.

Economy

Niger is an agrarian state with a predominance of the agricultural sector of agriculture. Peanuts, sugar cane, cotton, millet, sorghum, and cassava are grown here. Livestock breeding is nomadic. The mining industry is developing (uranium ores and cassiterite). Main export items: uranium concentrate, livestock, peanuts.

Until the middle of the XIX century. the lands of Niger were inaccessible to Europeans, but by the beginning of the XX century. the territory of the modern country became part of French West Africa. The independent Republic of Niger was formed in 1960 after French West Africa gained independence and disintegrated into a number of separate states.

sights

Currently, uprisings of Tuareg tribes and armed conflicts between government forces and residents of the northern regions regularly occur in the country. Therefore, although there are no restrictions on movement, it may not be safe to visit these areas.

The city of Zinder is known for its unusual architecture, where you can find many monuments of Muslim culture, for example, mosques. Not bad when compared with other cities, the infrastructure is well developed. In the oldest quarter of Birney, there are square houses with geometric patterns and paintings on the walls. There is the Zengu quarter, inhabited mainly by the Hausa tribe, and the New City, which is the economic center of Zinder.

Niger photos

Useful data for tourists about Niger, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Niger, cuisine, peculiarities of visa and customs restrictions in Niger.

Capital: Niamey
Territory: 1267 thousand sq. km.
Country code: +227
Domain: .ne
Network: 220V
Time: Moscow: -2 / -3 hours
A visa is required to enter

Information about Niger

Geography of Niger

The Republic of Niger is a state in West Africa. It borders in the north with Algeria and Libya, in the east with the Republic of Chad, in the south and south-west with Nigeria, in the south-west with Benin and Burkina Faso, in the west with Mali. Landlocked.

The country's relief is dominated by plains with heights of 300-500 m above sea level. In the northwest, the Air massif is located - a system of plateaus of different heights. The highest point, Mount Baghezan, reaches 1900 m. The eastern part of Cala drops abruptly to the huge sandy desert of Tenere. The northern part of the country is occupied by high rocky plateaus. In the southern regions of the country, flat plateaus prevail, composed of sandstones, sands and loams with individual outcrops of crystalline rocks. Average heights are 200-500 m.

State

State structure

Republican form of government. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. Legislature - National Assembly.

Language

State language: French

Of the local languages, the most widespread languages are Hausa, Jerma, Fululde, Kanuri and Tamashek.

Religion

95% of the population are Muslims (Sunni Islam), 4.5% are adherents of traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), 0.5% are Christians (the majority are Catholics).

Currency

International name: KFA

Currency exchange can be made at banks and exchange offices, the exchange rate can vary significantly.

The use of credit cards and traveler's checks is possible only in banks and international hotels in the capital, Visa and MasterCard are preferred (although substantial commissions are very likely). The best exchange rates are for checks and credit cards from French banks. In the provinces, their use is almost impossible.

Description of the country Niger. Republic of Niger: geographical location, standard of living, sights of the country. Fine arts and crafts

Geographical location and boundaries.

Nature.

Population.

Religions.

PUBLIC STRUCTURE AND POLICY

State structure.

Administrative device.

The judicial system.

Armed Forces and Defense.

Foreign policy.

Political organizations.

Trade union associations.

ECONOMY

Labor resources.

Agriculture.

Industry.

International trade.

Energy.

Transport.

Finance and credit.

Tourism.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

Healthcare.

Architecture.

Fine arts and crafts.

Literature.

Music and theater.

Cinema.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.

HISTORY

Pre-colonial and colonial periods of development.

A period of independent development.

Niger in the early 21st century

Excerpt from Niger Cities

Information about Niger

Geography of Niger

State

State structure

Language

Religion

Currency