Republic of Niger: geographical location, standard of living, attractions of the country. School Encyclopedia Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet

It is located in the western part of the African continent, on the banks of the river of the same name, the name of which translates as “Great River”. Approximately 80% of the country's territory is occupied by the majestic Sahara Desert. Meanwhile, Niger is the largest state in West Africa, covering an area of over one million, two hundred and fifty thousand square kilometers. The maximum height of the plains, which cover a significant part of the territory of the republic, is no more than 500 meters above sea level. The highest mountain peak is Bagezan, 1900 meters high.

The east of the country is covered by the Tenere desert, with sparse grass and shrubs in its southern part, and the west is dominated by river beds, abundantly filled with water during the rainy season. In the area of the Air plateau there are moving sand dunes, and a little to the west there are plains, the basis of which is clay, so this area is actively used by nomads grazing cattle. The southwestern region of Niger is the most vibrant and colorful, as well as rich in wildlife. Cotton trees ("bombaxes"), mangoes, papaya and many palm trees grow in these places. Giraffes, cheetahs, gazelles, lions, and antelopes live here. On the coast of Lake Chad you can often find herds of elephants that regularly visit the local waters in search of life-giving moisture. Birds, insects and reptiles are also widely represented in Niger.

Despite the huge reserves of uranium, oil and gas deposits, as well as other natural resources, the republic has for many years been considered one of the poorest countries on the planet. One of the main reasons is poorly developed infrastructure and high levels of corruption at the top of government. In addition, like any agricultural country, Niger largely depends on weather conditions and the quality of land. Meanwhile, only three percent of the local land area is suitable for agriculture, and considering climatic features, with minimal rainfall throughout the year and long dry periods, this industry can hardly be called promising for the state economy.

However, sugarcane, sorghum, cotton, peanuts, cassava and other crops are grown in Niger. The fishing industry is developing quite well. On at the moment In the republic, over 65% of the indigenous population live below the poverty line. One of the highest infant mortality rates on the planet, Africa’s traditional problems with medical care and healthcare, rampant crime and the absolute social defenselessness of citizens periodically result in serious armed conflicts that end the same in all cases.

The capital of Niger is the city Niamey, located on the banks of the Niger River. Today, about one million people live here. Moreover, in the 60s of the last century, this number was only 30 thousand. Approximately 90% of the townspeople belong to the Muslim religion, while almost all residents represent various African nationalities. There are very few Europeans and people from other continents in Niamey. In addition to the fact that the city is considered the most important transport hub for the entire country, there are several enterprises focused on light industry, as well as factories for the production of silver and gold products. Among the most interesting attractions are the Grand Mosque, symbolizing the religious status of the capital, and the building of the national museum, where visitors are invited to get acquainted with the history, culture and traditions of Niger, as well as learn a lot of interesting things about the times of the prehistoric period. The architectural appearance of the city is similar to the settlements of ancient Judea. Low adobe houses form residential areas, and large massive buildings, in a modern manner, belong to large manufacturing or financial companies. All buildings are surrounded by the foliage of evergreen trees, which give the simple urban landscapes a bright and colorful hue. The main sports facility here is a large stadium, which hosts international competitions in various sports and is completely filled on days when the Niger national football team plays here.

The republic has an arid equatorial climate. Formally, winter in the country lasts from June to October. At the same time, it rains, which, however, are irregular and periodic. All other months in Niger are dry, and you have to wait for a very long time for saving moisture. Average annual temperature air is +30 degrees. But at night, especially in the desert, the heat gives way to coolness, so much so that sometimes it’s not a sin to wear something warm.

While in Niger, you should be careful about religion and not dress provocatively. In the dark, it is not advisable to go outside the hotel, since at these hours animals that become more active during cool weather pose no less a danger than people, as evidenced by the sounds of the jungle, which are especially clear at night. In addition, before traveling to West Africa, it is recommended to get vaccinated against yellow fever, which is a traditional companion for local residents. A huge number of insects, including the famous Tsetse fly, are also not friendly and hospitable, so for a complete “ammunition” you should grab several more types of ointments and tablets for stomach pain, because Nigerian dishes are as exotic as they are specific. Based on the above, it is worth noting that for avid travelers this country is an excellent opportunity to learn a lot of new things and get to know the mysterious world of Africa in all its diversity.

NIGER, Niger Republic. State in West Africa.
The capital is Niamey (700 thousand people - 2002).
Territory – 1.267 million square meters. km.
Administrative division: 7 departments and the capital municipal district.
Population – 12.5 million people. (2005, evaluation).
The official language is French.
Religion – Islam, traditional African beliefs and Christianity.
Currency– 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 Organization of Afro-Mauritian (OCAM) since 1965, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Economic and Monetary Union of West African States (EUMOA) since 1994 and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).

The territory of Niger is located within the ancient African platform. 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, intruded by volcanic intrusions. Aira contains rich deposits of uranium ores in the Arlit and Imuraren areas, as well as coal deposits in Anu Araren.

In the west and east of the country, the foundation is covered by a thick layer 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 have also been discovered.

The Air massif has a general slope towards the west, where the heights reach only 700–800 m. There are many deep valleys with dry river beds (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 Aira drops steeply towards the vast Tenere desert, where mobile dunes predominate, forming dune ridges and massifs.

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

The southern regions of the country are dominated by leveled plateaus composed of sandstones, sands and loams with isolated outcrops of crystalline rocks. Average heights are 200–500 m. The monotony of the relief is broken by the highly dissected Adar-Duchi plateau southeast of Tahoua and the picturesque granite hills in the vicinity of Zinder.

Niger is located in one of the hottest regions of the globe. The average annual temperature here is 27–29° C. Evaporation reaches 2000–3000 mm, while the annual precipitation almost never exceeds 600 mm.

The vast northern regions located in the Sahara Desert are characterized by a tropical desert climate with very dry air, high daytime temperatures and sharp daily temperature fluctuations (more than 20°). The southern regions included in 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 large differences in day and night temperatures, and the midday heat can reach 40° C.

If in the Sahara generally less than 100 mm of precipitation falls per year and there are areas where there is no rain at all for several years, then in the Sahel region the average annual precipitation in the north does not exceed 300 mm, and in the south, at the latitude of Tahoua and Niamey, sometimes it increases 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 precipitation exceeds 800 mm, and the rainy season lasts 5–7 months.

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

Frequent droughts cause great damage to Niger's agriculture. In 1968–1974, a severe drought broke out throughout the country, accompanied by the death of crops and livestock.

The country's largest river, the Niger, is fed by rainfall that falls in its upper reaches. Floods in the Niamey area occur in late January – early February. To the south, near the city of Gaya, there are two floods - in February and September-October. The Niger Valley is the most important agricultural region of the country, in which the river's waters are widely used for irrigation.

Niger owns part of the waters of Lake Chad, which often changes the contours of its shores and water level. Depths range from 1 to 4 m depending on the amount of precipitation and the volume of river flow. The highest level occurs in January, the lowest in July. The lake is rich in fish, but its shores, heavily overgrown with grasses and bushes, are marshy and difficult to access.

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

The savannas of the Sahel are dominated by grasses and other grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and rare trees. The natural vegetation here is heavily damaged by livestock grazing.

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

Numerous rodents, fennec foxes, oryx and addax antelopes are found in the deserts of Niger. The vast savannas are home to graceful gazelles and many predators (cheetah, hyena, jackal). The world of birds is rich: there are ostriches, eagles, bald vultures, and kites.

In the southern savannah, some of the large mammals that remain are giraffes, antelopes and wild boars, and lions are among the predators. Large herds of elephants are found on the right bank of the Niger and near Lake Chad. The rivers are home to hippopotamuses and crocodiles. Birds are especially numerous: ducks, geese, waders, herons, cranes, ibises, storks, black marabou. Among them there are many migratory species. Lots of insects, especially termites and locusts.

Nature reserves have been created in the area of the Air mountain plateau and the Tener desert.

Capital – Niamey

Population

TYPICAL VILLAGE HOUSE in Niger

One of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa, the average population density is 9.1 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Average annual population growth is 3.5%. Niger is one of the countries with a high birth rate (48.3 per 1000 people), mortality is 21.33 per 1000 people. The infant mortality rate (278 per 1,000 births) 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 over 65 years of age – 2.1%. Life expectancy is 42.13 years (men – 42.46, women – 41.8). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2005).

Niger is a multi-ethnic state. The country's African population belongs to more than 20 ethnic groups. The most numerous peoples are: Hausa (56%), Derma (22%), Fulbe (8.5%), Tuareg (8%) and Kanuri (4.3%). The country is also home to Arabs, French (about 1,200 people) and other peoples. The most common local languages are Hausa, Djerma, Fulfulde, Kanuri and Tamashek.

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

There is labor migration of Nigerians to Benin, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Togo.

Religions. 95% of the population are Muslims (they profess Sunni Islam), 4.5% are adherents of traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), 0.5% are Christians (the vast majority are Catholics) - 2004. The spread of Islam began in the 9th–11th centuries. n. e. The Sufi order (tariqa) Tijaniyya enjoys especially great influence among Muslims. The tariqats of Senusiyya and Hamaliyya are also influential.

STATE STRUCTURE

Niger is a presidential republic. There is a constitution in force, approved by a referendum on July 18, 1999 and which came 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 on the basis of universal direct and secret suffrage. His term of office is 5 years.

Administrative structure. The country is divided into 7 departments and the capital municipal district.

Judicial system. Based on French civil law, Sharia and customary law also apply. There are Supreme, High, Courts of Appeal and the State Security Court.

Armed forces and defense. The national armed forces were created in August 1961. In 2002 they numbered 5.3 thousand people. (army - 5.2 thousand people, air force - 100 people). Paramilitary forces 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 remaining Sahara-Sahel states - Libya, Burkina Faso and Mali. Good neighborly relations with Algeria are developing. Interstate relations with Côte d'Ivoire are complicated due to the problem of the influx of refugees from this country.

ECONOMY

Niger is an agricultural country. It ranks second (after Sierra Leone) in the world in terms of poverty levels. According to UN data approx. 3.5 million inhabitants suffer from hunger. 75% of the population has an annual income of $365, with 35% living below the poverty level. 40% of the population (mostly in rural areas) suffers from chronic malnutrition.

Agriculture. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 39% (2001), it employs 85% of the population (2005 estimate). 3.54% of land is cultivated (2001). Agricultural production depends almost entirely on the amount of rainfall. The annual production growth in the agricultural sector is approx. 2%. Basic export crops– peanuts and vegetables. Oranges, bananas, legumes, corn, millet, rice, sugar cane, sorghum, cotton and tobacco are also grown. Nomadic livestock farming is developed (breeding camels, horses, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats). 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 ranks third (after Canada and Australia) in the world in uranium production. Its share in the country's exports is constantly declining; in 2002 it was 32% (in 1990 – 60%). Coal and gold mining is also carried out. There are enterprises for processing agricultural products, including the production of peanut butter, flour and beer. There are small textile and leather factories.

Foreign trade. The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2002, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 400 million, and exports - 280 million. The bulk of imports are grain, food products, cars 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 products are uranium ore, live cattle, 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 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) amounted to 80 million kilowatt-hours. Electricity is generated at thermal power plants running on diesel fuel.

Transport. The transport network is not developed. Railways No. The total length of highways 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 the waterways is 300 km. There are 27 airports and runways (9 of them have hard surfaces) - 2004. International airports are located in the cities of Niamey and Agadez.

SOCIETY

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

Architecture. In the south and east of the country, traditional dwellings among peoples engaged in agriculture (Hausa, Djerma, Songhai) are round mud or straw huts. Their roof is made of straw and has a conical shape. Near the dwelling, granaries covered with a thatched roof are built - clay vessels reaching up to 3 m in height. The dwellings of nomadic peoples (Tuaregs and Fulani) are round or rectangular tents and tents made of mats, covered with leather.

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

Contents of the article

NIGER, Republic of Niger. State in West Africa. The capital is Niamey (700 thousand people - 2002). Territory – 1.267 million square meters. km. Administrative division: 7 departments and the capital municipal district. Population – 12.5 million people. (2005, evaluation). 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 Organization of Afro-Mauritian (OCAM) since 1965, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Economic and Monetary Union of West African States (EUMOA) since 1994 and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).

Geographical location and boundaries.

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

Nature.

The eastern part of Aira drops steeply towards the vast Tenere desert, where mobile dunes predominate, forming dune ridges and massifs.

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

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

Frequent droughts cause great damage to Niger's agriculture. In 1968–1974, a severe drought broke out throughout the country, accompanied by the death of crops and livestock.

The savannas of the Sahel are dominated by grasses and other grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and rare trees. The natural vegetation here is heavily damaged by livestock grazing.

Nature reserves have been created in the area of the Air mountain plateau and the Tener desert.

Population.

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

There is labor migration of Nigerians to Benin, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Togo.

Religions.

95% of the population are Muslims (they profess Sunni Islam), 4.5% are adherents of traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), 0.5% are Christians (the vast majority are Catholics) - 2004. The spread of Islam began in the 9th–11th centuries. n. e. The Sufi order (tariqa) Tijaniyya enjoys especially great influence among Muslims. The tariqats of Senusiyya and Hamaliyya are also influential.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State structure.

The President is Tandja Mamadou. Elected on 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 of orange (top), white and green. In the center of the white stripe there is an image of a small orange disk, which symbolizes the sun.

Administrative device.

The country is divided into 7 departments and the capital municipal district.

Judicial system.

Based on French civil law, Sharia and customary law also apply. There are Supreme, High, Courts of Appeal and the State Security Court.

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 forces 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 remaining Sahara-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 healthcare and training of national personnel for Niger (until 2003, 440 Nigeriens were educated at universities in 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:

– « National Movement for Development Society - Nassar», NDOR – Nassar(Movement national pour une société de développement - Nassara, MNSD - Nassara), Chairman - Hamidou Sekou, General. Sec. – Hama Amadou. Ruling party, main 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), chairman. – Usmane Mahamane Party created In 1991;

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

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

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

– « United for Democracy and Progress», EDP(Rassemblement pour la démocratie et le atriots, RDP), chairman. – Algabid Hamid, gen. Sec. – Labi Mahamane Souley Labi;

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

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

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

Trade union associations.

“Association of Trade Unions of Workers of Niger”, OPTN (Union des Syndicats des Travailleurs du Niger, USTN). Created in 1960, it unites 28 thousand members. The General Secretary is Mahamane Mansour.

ECONOMY

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

Labor resources.

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

Agriculture.

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

Industry.

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

Foreign trade.

The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2002, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 400 million, and exports - 280 million. The bulk of imports are grain, food products, cars 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 products are uranium ore, live cattle, 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 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) amounted to 80 million kilowatt-hours. Electricity is generated at thermal power plants running on diesel fuel.

Transport.

The transport network is not developed. There are no railways. The total length of highways 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 the waterways is 300 km. There are 27 airports and runways (9 of them have hard surfaces) - 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 course national currency was: 1 USD = 528.3 XOF.

Tourism.

Developed since the 1960s. Foreign tourists are attracted by the diversity of natural landscapes, the opportunity to travel on pirogues along the Niger River, as well as the richness and originality of the culture of local peoples. In 1995, the country was visited by 66.2 thousand tourists from the USA, European countries (mainly from France) and Africa. On further development The tourism industry was negatively affected by the political instability of the environment. 1990s In 1999, 42.4 thousand arrived. foreign tourists. Income from tourism amounted to 24 million US dollars (in 1997 – 18 million US dollars).

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

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

By the time of independence, 99% of the country's population was illiterate. Eight years of education is officially compulsory. Children receive primary education (6 years) between the ages of 7 and 13. Secondary (7 years) begins at the age of 13 and takes place in two stages - 4 and 3 years. Less than 25% of children of the corresponding age regularly attend primary school, and approximately. 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 named after. Abdou Moumouni Diop (Niamey, opened in 1973, is under state control), the Islamic University of West Africa (Sai, opened in 1987) and the College of Management. In 2002, at 8 faculties and departments of the University. A. Diop (current name since 1999), 279 teachers worked and 5.85 thousand students studied. Niger has extremely low literacy rates - 17.6% (25.8% men and 9.7% women) - 2003.

Healthcare.

Architecture.

In the south and east of the country, traditional dwellings among peoples engaged in agriculture (Hausa, Djerma, Songhai) are round mud or straw huts. Their roof is made of straw and has a conical shape. Near the dwelling, granaries covered with a thatched roof are built - clay vessels reaching up to 3 m in height. The dwellings of nomadic peoples (Tuaregs and Fulani) are round or rectangular tents and tents made of mats, covered with leather.

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

Fine arts and crafts.

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

Modern fine art began to develop after the country gained independence. Artists: Boubacar Boureima, Riess Ixa.

Among the crafts and arts, pottery, tanning, blacksmithing, weaving, weaving and jewelry are developed. Outside Niger, the jewelry art of the Tuareg and Fulani, Djerma weaving, as well as the painting of calabashes (pumpkin vessels) of the Hausa people are known. Works by Nigerien artists and handicrafts are widely represented in the exhibition. National Museum Niger (Niamey, founded in 1959).

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

Literature.

The emergence 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. Bubu Hama is considered the first most important national writer. Other famous writers and playwrights are Amadou Ousman, Boureima Ada, Diado Amadou, Ide Umaru. Poets – Abdoulaye Mamani, Bube Zume, Maman Garba. The works of some Niger writers were published in France.

Music and theater.

National music has long traditions. It was formed on the basis of the musical art of local peoples and is closely related to the activities of griots (the general name for professional storytellers and musicians-singers in West Africa). Rich musical instruments - algaita (oboe), various drums (kalangu, karangazhi, harre, ettebel), lutes (gote, inzag, kuntigi, molo), rattles (jan-jama, zari), horns and rattles (dombo, kuariya) and flutes (saysey, sareua, tasinsak). Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely related to the daily life of local peoples. The National Ensemble of Niger toured the USSR in 1981. In February 2004, several folk 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 traveling “comedians” using wooden dolls were often held on Muslim holidays. Amateur theater groups were created at educational institutions and cultural centers in the 1950s. Playwrights - Mahaman Dandobi, Damagaram A. Salifu, Bubu Khama.

Cinema.

Niger is one of the first states on the African continent where national cinema appeared. 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 film directors are Moussa Alzouma, Moustapha Diop, Dzingare Maiga, Abdul Kerim Seini. The country's filmmakers were regular participants in the Moscow and Tashkent film festivals; in 1980, Niger Cinema Week was held in Moscow.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

Published on French: daily government newspaper "Le Sahel", government newsletter "Journal Officiel de la République du Niger - "Official Newspaper of the Republic of Niger", published biweekly), independent weekly newspaper “Le Républicain” (The Republican) and the quarterly magazine “Nigerama”. The national news agency "Nigerian 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 conducted in French and Arabic, as well as in local languages - Djerma, Gurmanche, Kanuri, Tamashek, Fulfulde and Hausa. Television began operating on April 15, 1979, broadcasting programs daily. In 2002 there were 15 thousand Internet users.

STORY

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 newcomers and natives, and the rise and fall of polities and rivalries among 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 some of the Hausa farmers who then lived in the most elevated areas of the plateau, and pushed the rest south to the territory located between modern cities Tahua and Zinder. Since the 14th century. The Hausa created their own city-states in southern Niger. The confederation formed by the Tuareg (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 large areas of western and central Niger, including the Sultanate of Agadez. Agadez flourished due to the fact that caravan routes crossed there, 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 Hausa lands in the southeast, including Zinder, was established by the Bornu state with its capital at Ngazargamu (in the territory of modern Nigeria). Other Hausa, who created the city-states of Gobir, Katsina and Daura and withstood the onslaught of the Songhai and Kebbi states, managed to maintain independence, although very fragile. Frequent civil strife 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 trans-Saharan trade.

At the beginning of the 17th century. Many Jerma migrants from the Songhai state settled east of the Niger River and became settled farmers. At the same time, on the territory of Niger there appeared new wave Tuaregs who were moving south towards the Niger River. Other Tuareg groups re-established themselves in the 18th century. their independence and moved west to raid the lands of the former Songhai state. At the beginning of the 19th century. The Hausan lands and western Bornu became the scene of a holy war of jihad, led by the Muslim theologian and reformer Osman dan Fodio, a Fulani by ethnicity. He managed to establish Fulani power 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 the appearance there at the end of the 19th century. Sudanese conqueror Rabbah.

When in the 19th century. the first appeared in Niger European travelers, they found this region in a state of complete anarchy and saw disintegrating state formations and small isolated settlements, the inhabitants of which could not protect themselves from aggressive warlike neighbors. In 1806, the Scottish traveler Mungo Park descended down the Niger River, and in 1822 the Scotsman Hugh Clapperton and the Englishman Dixon Denham headed from Tripoli across the Sahara and reached Lake Chad. In 1853–1855, the German explorer Heinrich Barth, who was in British service, went with his expedition from the Niger River to Lake Chad. In 1870, another German explorer, Gustav Nachtigal, crossed the Sahara from the Bilma oasis to Nguygmi near Lake Chad. Although there were no Frenchmen 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 River was declared a zone of French interests. In 1890, representatives of Great Britain and France came to an agreement to establish a demarcation line between the zones of interest 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 “actual occupation”. In 1891–1892, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Montey, on behalf of the French government, explored the territory of this area, 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 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 rebelled against the French authorities, which was suppressed after the war, but the French for a long time could not establish effective control over Tuareg nomads. In addition, the French encountered fierce resistance from the Tubu nomads in the eastern part of Niger, which was only broken in 1922.

In 1900, a “military autonomous territory Zindera" (in 1910 transformed into the "military territory of Niger"), which was included in the colony of Upper Senegal - Niger, which was part of French West Africa (FWA). In 1922, the territory of Niger was allocated as a separate colony within 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 political organizations of the modern type in Niger. The constitution provided for African representation in the local governments of the colonies, which became "overseas territories" and were also represented in the French National Assembly. In 1946, Niger's first political party was created - the Niger Progressive Party (NPP), which became one of the sections of the African Democratic Rally (ADR), which operated in all colonies of the FZA. Quite soon, the NPP began to lose its authority, and in 1951 a split occurred in it, caused by the reluctance of the left wing, led by the radical trade union leader Djibo Bakari, to follow the political line of part of the DOA leadership of refusing 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 held in 1957 after the introduction of the law granting the “overseas territories” greater autonomy, Bakari’s party won the majority of seats in the Niger parliament, and he himself took the post of 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 had to vote either to join the French Community or to sever all ties with the mother country, Sawaba advocated complete independence for Niger. In this situation, the NPP, together with the leaders and other political forces, formed the coalition “Union for the Franco-African Community”. In the referendum, the results of which, however, are considered controversial, 78% of the votes were cast in favor of Niger joining 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 a majority of seats in the National Assembly. The following year, Sawaba's party was banned, deputies who had passed on its lists were expelled from parliament, and the party's leaders were expelled from Niger.

Period of independent development.

After the proclamation of Niger's independence in August 1960, A. Diori became president of the country; in 1965 and 1970 he was re-elected for a new term. Diori's conservative regime maintained close political and economic ties with France. Throughout the 1960s, there were clashes between supporters of Sawab's party and state law enforcement forces. Niger suffered more than other countries in the Sahel zone from the 1969–1974 drought, which caused widespread famine. The number of livestock in the country has sharply decreased. After information spread that foreign aid was not reaching 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 (SMC), headed by Lieutenant Colonel Seini Kunche. The end of the drought and rising world uranium prices helped the military government make some progress in economic recovery, although the country remained 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, chief of staff of the armed forces. He introduced a new constitution that allowed for a multi-party system and founded the National Development Society Movement (Nassar) party. In 1989, the constitution was suspended and the National Assembly was dissolved. Amadou Cheiffou became the head of the interim government and began preparations for parliamentary and presidential elections. In 1993, for the first time, a representative of the Hausa people, Mahaman Usman, was elected president of the country, holding this post until January 1996, when a coup d'etat took place. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament were removed from their posts. The Council of National Reconciliation (CNR) 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, Mainasara was elected president of the country, and in November 1996 parliamentary elections were held.

At the beginning of 1999, elections to parliament and local authorities were held. 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 brewing in the country. And on April 9, Mainasara was killed. The head of state and chairman of the People's Congress was appointed the head of the presidential guard, Major Dauda Malam Vanke (a native of the Hausa people).

Niger at the beginning of the 21st century

The 1999 presidential elections took place in two rounds – October 17 and November 24. In the first round, 7 candidates participated, in the second, the fight for the presidency unfolded between the candidate from the National Movement for Development Society - Nassara (MNDS-Nassara) party Mamadou Tandja and Mahamadou Issoufou, the leader of the Nigerian Party for Democracy and Socialism (NPDS). ). M. Tanja was elected president of the country, receiving 59.89% of the votes.

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

In 2000, the government began implementing a two-year program of intensive economic reforms. The program provided, first of all, for the privatization and repurposing of state-owned enterprises, as well as a reduction in budget expenditures for social needs. Before 2003, real GDP was negative.

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

In the elections to the National Assembly, held on December 4, 2004, the NDOR-Nassar 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 (DSC) 22 seats, the remaining 19 seats went to the SDS, UDP, the Niger Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress and the NSDP. DSK Chairman Mahaman Usman was elected Chairman of the Parliament.

By the summer of 2005, an extremely difficult situation had developed in the country: due to a long drought, as well as an invasion of locusts that destroyed crops, famine began. According to UN estimates, 2.5 million Niger residents are in need of urgent food assistance. A particularly critical situation has developed in the northwestern regions of the country. France was the first to begin providing food assistance under the auspices of the UN: in July, a batch of humanitarian supplies of 18 tons was sent to Niger. The total amount of French aid to Niger will be approx. 5 million euros (together with 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 Francophone Games will be held in Niamey. In order to prepare sporting events, France allocated more than 10 million euros to Niger for the development of the capital's infrastructure.

M., “Science”, 1989
Tropical Africa: from authoritarianism to political pluralism? M., Publishing company "Oriental Literature" RAS, 1996
Decalo, S. Historical Dictionary of Nigeria. 3rd Edn. Metuchen, NJ, Scarecrow Press, 1996
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd 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

Despite the fact that when communicating with people of a different race, well-mannered people use correct terms, there are still enough: Muscovites, Katsaps, crests, Bulbashes, etc. Although in their “offensiveness” they cannot be compared with such a well-known word, Like "Nigers." Where did this word come from? Why does it offend representatives so much? And doesn’t it have other meanings? Few people know the answers to these questions. Let's try to understand the topic.

Why can black people call blacks?

For quite some time now, African Americans have negatively perceived even the neutral word “negro,” believing that in fact the lexical unit has logical roots. Translated from Spanish, “negro” means “black color”. From time immemorial, people of the Negroid race were called this way. In journalism, representatives of the capoid race - Bushmen and Hottentots - fell under this definition. And in Russia this term is used to describe dark-skinned mulattoes.

Who are niggas and how did the term itself develop?

It is not surprising that such a convenient term is used in scientific vocabulary and many abbreviations. The word “negro” is the only possible designation for the color black, so the manifestation of political correctness here seems somewhat absurd. In the Netherlands and Flanders, the Dutch word "neger" may be criticized, but is not officially considered politically incorrect. But we note that in the dictionaries there is a note that the term is perceived by some people as offensive.

In European languages in the 17th century, in the wake of colonialism, words with similar sounds appeared. Thus, the term “niger” appeared in Latin. How to determine who the nigers are, and what is bad in this word? The word “niger” has the same meaning, it is just an emphasis on the black skin color, so there is nothing offensive here. But after the collapse of colonialism in the second half of the 20th century, the official use of the term sharply decreased, and it became mainly vulgar speech. Note that in the USA the term was replaced by the word “black”, and in France by “african”. Термины «nigger», «nigga» остались в англоязычном просторечном общении и иронично употребляются самими афроамериканцами, а из уст европейцев считаются оскорблением и проявлением расизма.

Why are black people treated with caution in some countries?

In Russia, the situation is somewhat different, because here, even today, representatives of the Negroid race are considered exotic, despite the fact that a stream of African students has poured here since the middle of the last century. Perhaps outdated views are explained by too deeply rooted traditions, negative perceptions of mixed marriages and denial of everything unusual. Касательно нашей основной темы отметим, что основная часть темнокожего населения произошла из испано- или португалоязычных стран, а именно, Кубы, Анголы и Мозамбика, где слово «негр» или «ниггер» не является оскорбительным. In the Russian language, the concept of “Nigers” also does not have a negative linguistic coloring, which cannot be said about the United States, where it is used as an offensive name of the black.

In general, the meaning of a word depends on the emotional connotation and context of the phrase. The times of slavery are still fresh in the memory of the black population, when the word “nigers” implied “slaves”. Although this fact is not accurate, because representatives of all nationalities, with any skin color, fell into slavery. Thus, there is no reliable information about who the Nigers are and who were called such a word. However, dark-skinned inhabitants of the planet are trying to remove this term from everyday life, associating it with renegades and outcasts of society. Gradually, the practice of refusing to use offensive nicknames is becoming more widespread, and in the United States, representatives of the Negroid race are honorably called African-Americans. In Latin America they also prefer to replace the term "niger". The meaning of the word here does not offend the population, however, when communicating with residents of other countries, another concept is used - “prieto”. Under the influence of Spanish, the Brazilian media supports the trend of using the term "negro".

Recently, the designation of black people as Negro Africans has been increasingly used. This is especially observed in the Romance-speaking countries of the Mediterranean basin, which are in close contact with North African countries, where there is a very high density of Arab, Berber and black populations. This term makes it possible to identify an exclusively black element from a mixed population.

What does the law say?

Not so long ago, the theme was considered by the federal court on the use of the word “niger” by one African American regarding another in order to express love and gratitude. The court ruled that the use of such an expression carries a negative connotation, regardless of the context. The judges tried to determine who the Nigers are, and whether the head of the personnel agency is obliged to pay compensation to his black employee for calling it such a term. The case was decided in favor of the injured side, but about the use of the word "nigers" were established when the whites use it, this is an insult, but blacks can be malicious to push each other.

In conclusion, I would like to note that niger is a truly polysemantic word, which, in addition to skin color and nationality, also names a deep river, the third largest after the Nile and the Congo. It is also a state in West Africa. Therefore, remember, having heard the expression “niger”: the meaning of the word can be different, and to understand the phrase, you should focus on the context.

The center of the Tenere Desert is dominated by mobile dunes, almost devoid of vegetation, and in the southern part there are plant-fixed dunes up to 15–20 km long. The northernmost part of Niger, on the border with Algeria and Libya, is occupied by high, rocky desert plateaus; in the south there is a plateau composed of loams and sandstones. A special natural area is formed by the most favorable for life valley of the Niger River in the southwest of the country.

Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world. Three-quarters of its territory is occupied by tropical deserts, where annual precipitation is less than 100 mm and average monthly temperatures exceed 30 °C. To the south of the desert lies the Sahel zone with rainfall up to 600 mm, although droughts are common here too. Only in the extreme southwest of the country does the rainfall amount slightly more - 750 mm per year (falls mainly in July and August). The most characteristic feature of the climate is sharp daily temperature changes: in the morning it can be as low as 13 °C, and a few hours later the air warms up to 30 °C. The vegetation is sparse and, moreover, greatly transformed by humans: in the Sahel zone, in some places, areas of grassy savannas with individual groups of trees (Senegalese acacia, gao) have been preserved. Among the large animals there are a few giraffes, lions, antelopes, and two large herds of elephants. In the southern regions, wild boars and warthogs are quite common.

The ethnic composition of the population (about 20.6 million people) is complex: more than half are Hausa, farmers living along the border with Nigeria in the south of the country. The West is inhabited by peoples of the Songhai language group. Another economic type includes the Tuaregs who inhabit the north and north-west of the country, as well as the Fulani, who are engaged in nomadic cattle breeding. The vast majority of the population professes Islam. Niamey is not only the capital, but also the most important industrial, transport and cultural center. The university and other educational institutions are located here. It should be noted that residents of the cities of Niger are characterized by the rule of nationalism in relation to visiting Europeans.

Nature

The eastern part of Aira drops steeply towards the vast Tenere desert, where mobile dunes predominate, forming dune ridges and massifs.

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

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

Frequent droughts cause great damage to Niger's agriculture. In 1968–1974, a severe drought broke out throughout the country, accompanied by the death of crops and livestock.

The savannas of the Sahel are dominated by grasses and other grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and rare trees. The natural vegetation here is heavily damaged by livestock grazing.

Nature reserves have been created in the area of the Air mountain plateau and the Tener desert.

Story

Before the establishment of French power at the end of the 19th century. Niger's history has included tribal migrations, conflicts between newcomers and natives, and the rise and fall of polities and rivalries among 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 some of the Hausa farmers who then lived in the most elevated areas of the plateau, and pushed the rest south to the territory located between the modern cities of Tahoua and Zinder. Since the 14th century. The Hausa created their own city-states in southern Niger. The confederation formed by the Tuareg (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 large areas of western and central Niger, including the Sultanate of Agadez. Agadez flourished due to the fact that caravan routes crossed there, connecting the capital of Songhai, the city of Gao on the Niger River, with Tripolitania and Egypt.

At the beginning of the 17th century. Many Jerma migrants from the Songhai state settled east of the Niger River and became settled farmers. At the same time, a new wave of Tuaregs appeared on the territory of Niger, moving south towards the Niger River. Other Tuareg groups re-established themselves in the 18th century. their independence and moved west to raid the lands of the former Songhai state. At the beginning of the 19th century. The Hausan lands and western Bornu became the scene of a holy war of jihad, led by the Muslim theologian and reformer Osman dan Fodio, a Fulani by ethnicity. He managed to establish Fulani power 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 the appearance there at the end of the 19th century. 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, the inhabitants of which could not protect themselves from aggressive warlike neighbors. In 1806, the Scottish traveler Mungo Park descended down the Niger River, and in 1822 the Scotsman Hugh Clapperton and the Englishman Dixon Denham headed from Tripoli across the Sahara and reached Lake Chad. In 1853–1855, the German explorer Heinrich Barth, who was in British service, went with his expedition from the Niger River to Lake Chad. In 1870, another German explorer, Gustav Nachtigal, crossed the Sahara from the Bilma oasis to Nguygmi near Lake Chad. Although there were no Frenchmen 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 River was declared a zone of French interests. In 1890, representatives of Great Britain and France came to an agreement to establish a demarcation line between the zones of interest 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 “actual occupation”. In 1891–1892, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Montey, on behalf of the French government, explored the territory of this area, 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 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 rebelled against the French authorities, which was suppressed after the war, but the French for a long time could not establish effective control over Tuareg nomads. In addition, the French encountered fierce resistance from the Tubu nomads in the eastern part of Niger, which was only broken in 1922.

In 1900, the “military autonomous territory of Zinder” was created (in 1910 transformed into the “military territory of Niger”), which was included in the colony of Upper Senegal - Niger, which was part of French West Africa (FWA). In 1922, the territory of Niger was allocated as a separate colony within the FZA. In 1926, the administrative center of the colony was moved from Zinder to Niamey.

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

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

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

Economy

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

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