Official name: Republic of Niger (NE)

Capital city   : Niamey

Important Cities: Zinder, Maradi, Tahua, Dosso, Agadez.

Area:   1,267,000 km2

Population          : 25,131,000 (2021).[1] 15% of the population lives in cities. Average Lifespan: 46 years.

Ethnicity: 52 per cent of the population is Hausa. 85 per cent of Niger Hausas are Muslims. The second ethnic element is the Songay, which has a rate of 18%. All Songays are Muslims. Songays have their own language and 10 per cent of the words they use are Arabic. After them come the Fulanis, who have a 10% share. 95% of the Fulanis are Muslims.

Language: The official language is French. Local languages such as Hausa, Songay, Fulani and Tuareg are spoken among the people.

Religion: The state has no official religion. However, 98 per cent of the population is Muslim. The majority of Muslims are Sunni and Maliki.

Geographical Status: Niger, one of the West African countries, is surrounded by Algeria and Libya from the north, Chad from the east, Nigeria and Benin from the south, Burkina Faso and Mali from the west. The most important river is the Niger River. It has a coast to Lake Chad. 3% of its territory is agricultural land, 7% is grassland, 2% is scrubland and 88% is desert. Most of the arable land is on the banks of the Niger River. Niger has a hot and arid climate. It does not rain much except in July - August.

Mode of Government: Niger adopted a multi-party democratic system after the adoption of the constitution on 26 December 1992 and its entry into force in early 1993. As in other francophone (French-led) countries, Niger attaches great importance to the secular identity of the regime. The highest executive of the country is the head of state and the head of the government is the prime minister. Legislative power is vested in the 83-member parliament. Members of parliament are elected in free general elections.

International Organisations: Niger is a member of international organisations such as the UN, OIC[2], Organisation of African Unity, Economic Community of West African States, African Antilles and Pacific Convention, IMF, Islamic Development Bank.

Political Parties: Some parties formed an alliance called the Alliance of Forces for Change to take over the government and won the elections of 27 March 1993. This alliance, which brings together parties representing different ideas, holds the power in the country and endeavours to have good relations with France. The second important political power in the country is the Progressive Niger Party, which was previously the only party in the country.

History: According to historical records, Islam reached the territory of present-day Niger towards the end of the 10th century through the Berbers. The Gao Kingdom was subjected to the Murabaptids in the second half of the 11th century. This state, later called the Songay Empire, was ruled by a Sunni king named Ali in 1464. The kings who ruled the state after him were all Muslims. This state became a sultanate of Morocco after 1593. The Keita Kingdom ruled over a part of Niger between 1200 and 1670. The rulers of the state after it became a kingdom in 1200 were always Muslims. The Keita Kingdom was subordinated to Morocco from the end of the 16th century. The Kingdom of Bornu ruled the east of Niger for a long time. The territory of Niger was occupied by French colonialists in the late 19th century and remained under French occupation until 3 August 1960. The first president after independence was Hamani Diori, leader of the Progressive Niger Party. Hamani Diori had good relations with the French occupiers and was supported by the French. His election to office was also entirely a French ploy. Therefore, by recognising the independence of Niger, the French colonialists did not lose anything in terms of their interests in this country. Diori's rule ended with a military coup d'état on 15 April 1974 and he was succeeded by Seyni Kunçe. Upon his death, Colonel Ali Saibu became president on 14 November 1987. Ali Saibu remained in this position until the transition to a multi-party regime in 1993.

Internal Problems: Niger is also in trouble with a separatist movement. Tuaregs, especially in the north of the country, are engaged in an armed struggle to establish a separate administration. This struggle is organised by an organisation called the Tuareg Liberation Front. Because of this civil war in Niger, many Nigeris from the northern regions have been forced to seek refuge in Algeria. The civilian government that took office after the departure of Ali Saibu's military rule in 1993 wanted to solve the Tuareg problem through agreements. To this end, a ceasefire was declared for several months. France, the main instigator and instigator of the Tuareg separatist movement, initially acted as a mediator in this matter, but when it realised that some positive progress had been made towards a solution, it suspended its mediation role. The Tuareg conflict has not yet been definitively resolved and the guerrilla struggle of the Tuareg Liberation Front continues.

External Problems: Although Niger has gained its independence, it is under the political and economic pressure of France. France utilises the economic backwardness of the country for its political pressures and puts forward various conditions related to its domestic politics for economic aid. France attaches great importance to the secular identity of the country and opposes religious education in public schools in the name of secularism. It also pressures the Niger government to allow wide freedoms to the activities of missionary organisations and deviant movements such as Qadianism and Bahaism in the name of freedom of belief.

Islamic Movement in the Country: Niger Muslims are known for their piety. However, just like in other African countries, the policy of ignorance of the people implemented during the colonial period in Niger prevented the Muslim people from learning their religion sufficiently. Therefore, the lack of information also affected their religious life. Islamic organisations established after independence are working to re-inform the people and to ensure that they understand and live Islam correctly. One of the most officially recognised Islamic organisations in Niger is the Islamic Society. This organisation was founded in 1964 and its president is Omar Ismail, imam of the Grand Mosque in Niamey. It has more than a hundred branches throughout the country. The Society organises religious services, Islamic invitation and educational activities in the country. It opens courses and madrasas for teaching the Qur'an and religious education. The president of the association also makes periodic speeches and programmes on radio and television. After the transition to civilian rule and the facilitation of organising activities, other Islamic associations and organisations were established in the country. However, they have not yet been able to spread their activities throughout the country. The public and especially the youth show great interest in the activities of Islamic organisations. Sufi orders are also common in Niger. The most widespread of these is the Tijani order. There are also many members of the Qadiri sect. There is an Islamic University in Niger, established with the help of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, where Muslim students from African countries that accept French as an official language receive education. Arabic and French are taught at the university. As in many African countries, there are intense activities of deviant movements such as Qadianism and Bahaism in Niger. These movements are financially supported by missionary organisations and Westerners. The government, under pressure from Western countries and in the name of 'freedom of belief', does not interfere in any way with the activities of these movements. France requires the authorisation of the activities of such movements as a condition for economic aid. The Baha'is have an association in Niger with extensive financial resources. Some influential politicians also have relations with this association. The association has tied these politicians to itself by using their material means. The Bahá'ís have also opened private schools throughout the country and through these schools they are trying to bind the growing generation to themselves. They also organise conferences and symposiums, distribute gifts to people on special occasions and try to be influential in the society. Again, as in other African countries, missionary organisations also work intensively in this country.[3]

Economy: Although Niger has very little arable land (3%) and most of its territory is desert (88%), agriculture takes the first place in its economy. The share of agricultural products in gross domestic product is 35%. 76% of the working population is employed in agriculture. The most common agricultural products are cereals, millet, rice, peanuts, cotton and various vegetables. Livestock farming is also a source of livelihood for many people. In Niger, which has no coastline, fishing is carried out only in inland waters. The most important local resource extracted in Niger is uranium. Apart from this, it does not have an important local resource. Approximately 79% of export revenues are derived from uranium exports.

Currency: CFA Franc.

National Income per Capita: 622 USD[4].

Foreign Trade: The main exports are uranium, various foodstuffs and agricultural products. The main imported goods are petroleum products, transport vehicles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and foodstuffs. France ranks first in foreign trade. After that, countries such as Japan, USA and England come.

Industry: Niger has no heavy industry other than uranium related facilities. Existing industrial organisations are small factories and plants related to the processing of some agricultural products, textile, cement production and similar sectors. 3.1% of the working population is employed in the industrial sector. The share of the industrial sector in the gross domestic product is 8%.

Energy: All of the electricity produced domestically is obtained from thermal power plants. Annual electricity consumption per capita is 45 kw/hour on average.

Transportation: The country's only airport with scheduled flights is the airport open to international traffic in the capital Niamey. Niger has 11.260 km of motorways. In this country, there is one motorised transport vehicle for 192 people on average.

Health: Niger has 220 doctors and there is one doctor for 38.500 people.

Education: Niger has 2100 primary schools and 115 secondary schools, including vocational schools. The rate of primary school-age children who can attend primary school is 25%. This rate is 6% in secondary education. Niger has 2 universities, 1 college and 6 research institutes. The rate of university enrolment among university-age youth is 1 per cent. The rate of those who can read and write is 14 per cent.

Administrative Division: It is divided into 7 provinces and 38 districts.

[1]   www.ticaet.gov.tr(November-2021 Access)

[2]     www.oic-oci.org

[3]   www.enfal.de(November-2021 Access)

[4]   www.ticaret.gov.tr(Accessed November-2021)