Introduction

Background

Inhabiting present-day Niger are nomadic groups from the northern Sahara alongside agricultural communities from the southern regions. The prominent Taureg kingdom of Takedda emerged as one of the largest northern kingdoms and significantly influenced trade in the 14th century. The principal ethnic groups in the southern part of the country include the Songhai-Zarma to the west, the Hausa in the central areas, and the Kanuri to the east. By the 19th century, when European colonizers arrived, the area was characterized by a collection of various local kingdoms.

During the late 19th century, an agreement between the British and French led to the division of the central regions surrounding the Niger River, prompting France to initiate its conquest of what would later be known as the colony of Niger. France faced strong local opposition, notably during the Tuareg uprising from 1916 to 1917, yet managed to establish a colonial administration by 1922.

Niger gained independence from France in 1960, subsequently enduring a period of single-party or military governance until 1991, when political pressures compelled General Ali SAIBOU to permit multiparty elections. Internal political conflicts and a decline in democratic practices resulted in coups in 1996 and 1999. In the latter year, military leaders reinstated democratic governance and conducted elections that resulted in Mamadou TANDJA assuming the presidency. TANDJA won reelection in 2004 and facilitated a constitutional amendment in 2009 that allowed him to prolong his presidential term. A military coup in 2010 led to TANDJA's removal from power. In 2011, ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected and subsequently reelected in 2016. The presidential election in 2021 was won by BAZOUM Mohamed, signifying Niger's first peaceful transition between democratically elected presidents. However, in July 2023, a military junta led by General Abdourahamane TIANI took control, detaining President BAZOUM and declaring the establishment of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP).

Niger ranks among the world's poorest nations, grappling with limited governmental services and inadequate resources for development. According to the UN Development Program's Human Development Index for 2023/2024, it ranks fourth from the bottom. The economy, which is primarily agrarian and reliant on subsistence farming, often suffers disruptions due to prolonged droughts typical of the Sahel region. The Nigerien Government is actively seeking to diversify the economy through enhanced oil production and mining initiatives. Moreover, Niger is contending with heightened security issues along its borders, facing various external threats including instability in Libya, the ramifications of conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.