Niger - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Niger, it was named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir". The Government system in this country is the formerly, semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communaute urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
National symbols
Zebu; national colors: orange, white, green.
The flag
The National flag of Niger has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band; the orange band denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara; white stands for purity and innocence; green symbolizes hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the people.
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note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
The National Anthem
| Title | "La Nigerienne" (The Nigerien) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET |
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note: adopted 1961
More about the government of Niger
| Date of Independence | 3 August 1960 (from France) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960 |
| Legal system | note - following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010 |
| Amendments | Formerly proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended; amended 2011, 2017 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | unknown |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023) |
| Head of government | CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the CNSP; Cabinet previously appointed by the elected president |
| Elections/appointments | the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 December 2020 with a runoff held on 21 February 2021 (next election was to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly |
| Election results | 2020/2021: Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%; percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3% 2016: ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%; percent of vote in second round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Formerly the unicameral National Assembly (171 statutory seats - 166 currently; 158 members directly elected from 8 multi-member constituencies in 7 regions and Niamey by party-list proportional representation, 8 reserved for minorities elected in special single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 seats reserved for Nigeriens living abroad - 1 seat per continent - elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) |
| Elections | Last held on 27 December 2020 (prior to the military coup, next elections were to be held in December 2025) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 37%, MODEN/FA Lumana 8.7%, MPR-Jamhuriya 7.6%, MNSD-Nassara 6.8%, RDR-Tchanji 4.4%, CPR-Inganci 4.2%, MPN-Kishin Kassa 4%, PJP Generation Dubara 2.9%, ANDP Zaman Lahya 2.5%, RPP Farrilla 2.1%, ARD Adaltchi-Mutuntchi 1.7%, AMEN AMIN 1.4%, MDEN Falala 1.4%, other 15.3%; seats by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 79, MODEN/FA Lumana 19, MPR-Jamhuriya 14, MNSD-Nassara 13, CPR-Inganci 8, MPN-Kishin Kassa 6, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 3, RPP Farrilla 2, PJP Generation Dubara 2, ARD Adaltchi-Mutuntchi 2, AMEN AMIN 2, other 16; composition - men 115, women 51, percentage women 30.7% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Formerly the Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Formerly, Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years; High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary; members serve 5-year terms |
| Subordinate courts | Formerly, Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023) |
| Chancery | 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 483-4224 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 483-3169 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] http://www.embassyofniger.org/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023) |
| Embassy | BP 11201, Niamey |
| Mailing address | 2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420 |
| Telephone | [227] 20-72-26-61 |
| FAX | [227] 20-73-55-60 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://ne.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Niger
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Note: after the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland dissolved the National Assembly and prohibited all political party activity
Alliance for Democracy and the Republic
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Niger
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