Niger

Main article: Africa

Geography

Niger is a landlocked state in West Africa. The capital is the city of Niamey. More than 80 percent of the country is located in the Sahara desert, the rest is occupied by the semi-desert Sahel, which is constantly under threat of drought and desertification with possible mass hunger.

Geology

The territory of Niger is located within the ancient African platform. Foundation rocks - granites, gneiss and crystalline shales come to the surface in the north - in the Ayr massif, in the southwest - on the coast of the river Niger 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 from the surrounding plateaus.

The massif is composed of ancient crystalline rocks breached by volcanic intrusions. Rich deposits of uranium ores in the Arlit and Imuraren areas, as well as coal deposits in Anu Araren are concentrated in Aira.

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

The Ayr massif has a common slope to the west, where heights reach only 700-800 m. There are many deep valleys with dry riverbeds (locally called "measles") occasionally filling with water during rains. In the central part of the massif, average heights reach 1300-1700 m. Here are the highest points of the country - Tamgak (1988) and Idukaln-Tages (2022 m). The eastern part of Air abruptly breaks off towards the vast Tenere desert, where mobile dunes prevail, forming dune ridges and massifs.

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

In the southern regions of the country, leveled plateaus prevail, composed of sandstones, sands and loams with separate outcrops of crystalline rocks. Average heights are 200-500 m.

The monotony of the relief is disturbed by the highly dismembered Adar Duchi plateau southeast of Tahua and the picturesque granite hills in the vicinity of Zinder.

Climate

Air temperature

Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world by average temperature. The climate of the country is due to the continental position, proximity of the Sahara and the equator.

The average annual temperature is at least + 25 ° C, the average daily temperature fluctuations are large. The morning coolness is about + 15 ° C, and by noon the temperature can reach + 35 ° C and above.

Evaporation reaches 2000-3000 mm, while the annual amount of precipitation almost nowhere exceeds 600 mm.

Seasons and precipitation

The seasons in Niger are distinguished not by temperature, but by the regime of atmospheric precipitation. Three seasons are distinguished here: dry cool, dry hot and rainy.

• The dry, cool season caused by the northern continental airflow from the Sahara runs from November to February. The temperature reaches a minimum annual value of + 8 ° C, but during the day it will rise to + 30 ° C. This is the mildest time of the year.

• During the dry hot season, which lasts from February to July, the daytime temperature reaches + 40 ° C, and the nighttime temperature reaches at least + 25 ° C. At this time, the east wind dominates - Harmattan, which reaches a speed of 10 m/s. Harmattan often causes dust storms and dusty fog, covering even the southern regions of the country for several days.

• In April-May, and in the north of the country in June-July, the rainy season begins. The wind changes to the southwest, rains with thunderstorms go for several hours a day, causing floods. The maximum rainfall is in August.

Precipitation is unevenly distributed: in the north of the country, in the Sahara, precipitation lasts only a few hours for 2-4 days, and about 20 mm falls. In some areas, it does not rain for several years.

In the central regions of the country, in the Sahel, the average annual precipitation is 200-250 mm and it rains for two to four months, but may be late, or very little. Local droughts are a common occurrence.

Only in the extreme south, on the border with Benin, annually receives 600-800 mm of precipitation; the number of rainy days per year reaches 60-70.

Periodically, the country faces prolonged droughts.

Population

Main article: Population of Africa

Strength: 23 million

The 2023 population of more than 23 million people is concentrated in the far south and west of the country.

The official language is French, Songai, Bantu, etc. are used in everyday communication.

People

For 2023, the main population of Niger is representatives of the peoples of the Niger-Congo and Songai language groups, as well as states Berber tribes living in the north. Tuaregs

Tuaregs

Main article: Tuaregi

Migration

2021: Net outflow over 4 years

For 2020, Niger firmly closes all socio-economic anti-ratings, UN located on 189 out of 189 places in the Human Development Index. In the context of the onset of the desert and the lack of minimal infrastructure, women give birth to children literally "for export" - in the hope of remittances of smart children settling somewhere France after they perfectly master the Niger triad of success - "parents, friends and acquaintances."

Marriages

Allowed to have more than one spouse

Overweight

Mortality

2018: Number of road deaths

2016

Fighting Colonial Dependence on France

For 2023, Niger is in colonial dependence on France, which exercises control over all significant processes in politics and economics. For more on specific instruments of influence, see French Foreign Policy.

Economy

GDP $489 per person

Currency: CFA franc

Main article: Frank CFA (CFA)

Mining

2022: World No. 7 in uranium mining with 2,000 tons

As of 2022, Niger is a major producer of uranium ores.

2016: Islamists restart gold exports

In 2016, al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked movements seized hundreds of semi-abandoned and artisanal gold mines in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, becoming security guarantors and resellers for millions of illegal prospectors. They declared the collection of zakat from prospectors a "halal" practice and - to the great delight of local residents - abandoned the increasingly less profitable abductions for ransom.

Precious metal mined at the mines they control is sent to Togo, and from there it is transported to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Switzerland and India. As the Zangaro Today telegram channel wrote, in just one year, jihadists became the main employers for residents of remote and depressed desert districts, got rich by $2 billion and found an inexhaustible source of recruits in mines and in the surrounding settlements, welcoming bans on alcohol and prostitution and distribution of alms among those in need.

Oil and gas pipelines

Agriculture

2019: Low use of pesticides in agriculture

Consumption

2023: Beef is the most consumed type of meat

2018

The minimum age to purchase alcoholic beverages is 18 years

Vegetable consumption - 137 kg per capita

Power

2019: Electrification rate 14%

2020: Energy consumption per capita

and

Niger IT Market

2022: No start-up industry

Foreign trade

2022: China is the biggest export destination

Religion

As of 2023, up to 80% of believers in Niger are Muslims, the rest remain committed to ancient traditional beliefs.

Education

Islamic education

Like neighboring Nigeria, in 2020 Niger will be predicted the dubious fate of the "demographic bomb" - a fast-growing economy is unable to digest a rapidly growing population, and with the release of thousands and thousands of unmarried young people to the margins of the market, social contracts are collapsing, sealing the peaceful coexistence of the four largest communities (Arabs, Hausa, Fulbe and Tuareg).

Unemployed youth, especially in cities, are thrown into sects that challenge parents and Sufi authorities, and jihadists parasitizing on intercommunal contradictions find a breeding ground in the Gulf-sponsored Quranic schools of the radical Izal movement and urban cults of callacato engaged in the literal interpretation of the Quran.

2019: Only 19% of the population can read

Health care

2022: Up to 75% of drugs are counterfeits

In 2022, in Niger, the health care system has about 876 integrated centers of medicine, 2502 community medical points, 36 medical points. There are not enough doctors for a state with a population of 27 million inhabitants. And the qualification of those available is a big question. The most equipped and modern are the national hospitals of Niamey and Lamord (Niamey), where you can get full medical care. The bulk of medical services are provided by charitable, religious and non-governmental organizations.

Pharmacies in Niger are not sufficiently monitored for compliance with the quality standards of medical products. Medicines can be bought even in ordinary markets. Huge problems to the health care system are caused by the illegal import and circulation of medicines: up to 75% of medicines in pharmacies can be counterfeits.

2021: Maternity leave

in

2020

Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave less than a month

Part of the population defecates on the street

Crime

2024: The rise of drug trafficking by armed groups

Main article: Drug trafficking

According to [1] a UN report published in the spring of 2024, the number of drug seizures in the African Sahel region has increased sharply, indicating that significant routes for the trafficking of various illegal substances pass through this region.

In 2022, 1,500 kg of cocaine was seized in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Niger, compared with an average of 13 kg between 2013 and 2020. A sharp increase has been observed since 2021.

From this, it can be concluded that cocaine traffic from Latin America changes the delivery patterns of the product to Europe, using West Africa.

So Senegal and Guinea became one of the main hubs from where narcotic substances enter European countries. Despite the perceived struggle with large parties and the detention of traders, corruption allows illegal traders to easily redirect traffic in the right direction.

From Dakar and Conakry, cocaine enters Mali, where separatists Azawada and radical Islamists from the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim (DNIM) organize transit through the town of Tabankort in the north of the country. Then cocaine enters the Niger city of Agadez, from where it is redirected to Libya, and from Tobruk traffic goes to Europe.

By ensuring the smooth operation of drug trafficking, various armed groups in the Sahel receive funds for the purchase of weapons in the illegal market.

Prisons

2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 13

2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

History

2024

US military banned from Niger

Niger breaks a military agreement with the United States, which allows the US military to be on the territory of an African country, media reported on March 17, 2024.

The authorities demanded that about a thousand American troops liberate two military facilities and leave the territory of the republic. The government also banned the US Air Force from using the country's airspace.

At this time, the United States in Niger has two air bases in Niamey and Agadez, from which the US Air Force has actively monitored the actions of both the authorities and militants in the area of ​ ​ the three borders in the last month.

Among other things, the authorities in Niamey also accused the Americans of lack of assistance in the fight against terrorists, refusal to inform about the activities of their military representatives and unauthorized reconnaissance flights.

The decision was made after a three-day visit by the American delegation led by US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Mary Phee. According to some reports, the official used a non-diplomatic tone in negotiations. Niger authorities said that American representatives voiced threats in response to increased cooperation with Russia and Iran, falsely accused the government of supplying uranium to Tehran.

Talk that the United States would have to withdraw from Niger began back in 2023 after Washington condemning the coup d'etat in the country, and, as well, Paris supported the ECOWAS plan for a military intervention in Niger to "restore constitutional order." The new authorities considered such statements of partners hostile.

Then the acting tried to smooth out the corners. First US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who visited the capital of Niger in August 2023. She has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in investment to support the economy and security of the republic if ousted President Mohammed Bazoom returns to power. However, Nuland failed to convince the putschists.

Niger refuses to sever relations with Russia under German pressure

In January 2024, there were reports that she demanded that Germany Niger end relations with, threatening Russia to break off relations and close its embassy in the country.

"If Germany wants to close its embassy, so be it, we will not beg anyone. Whoever wants to leave, let him leave. Who needs Germany? The Europeans brought nothing to Africa except the exploitation of our resources, our wars, terrorists and our dictators, "said Abd al-Rahman Chiani, head of the Niger Transitional Military Council, in an interview with local television.

Leaving ECOWAS

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organization established in 1975 to strengthen economic cooperation between West African countries . In January 2024, Niger decided to leave the organization. The peoples of Africa are shedding the yoke of French neocolonialism.

2023

Niger voids military cooperation with EU

On December 4, 2023, Niger revoked military cooperation with the EU, revoking its authorization to deploy a community mission to Niamey.

The EUCAP Sahel Niger civilian mission was launched in 2012 to "help security forces fight militants and other threats." According to the mission's website, about 120 EU citizens are permanently on board.

US recognizes military junta in Niger

On December 2, 2023, US Ambassador to Niger Kathleen Fitzgibbon officially presented her credentials to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Niger. This diplomatic procedure was immediately interpreted as normalizing relations after a military coup in July and recognizing the new government.

Fitzgibbon arrived in the country in August and the local Foreign Ministry expected her to take office a few months ago. However, Washington said at the time that the ambassador would not present his credentials to the new Niger authorities, since the United States would not recognize them. Well, after the presentation procedure, the media, of course, began to discuss the turn of Niger towards the United States and the reasons for the unexpected warming.

At this time, the Americans are under the control of a large air force base 201 in the area of ​ ​ the city of Agadez in northeastern Niger. The air base serves as a reconnaissance and surveillance center in the Sahel countries and is equipped with attack drones and transport aircraft. In total, there are about 1,000 US troops in Niger.

It is curious that a few days before the mentioned events, Niger and Burkina Faso (obviously for various reasons) left the pro-French defense alliance G5 Sahel, and a year earlier this was done in Mali. As a result, only Chad and Mauritania remained in the association.

In general, processes similar to those taking place in Gabon take place in Niger - the United States replaces France as the colonial metropolis, wrote Rybar.

France recalls ambassador and diplomats from Niger, plans troop withdrawal by end of year

France was forced to recall her ambassador and diplomats from Niger, they will return Paris in the coming hours, said President France Emmanuel Macron on September 25, 2023.

Earlier that day, Niger imposed a ban on the use of its airspace by French aircraft.

On September 28, Macron announced that France was refusing military cooperation with the new government in Niger and would withdraw its troops from the country before the end of the year.

Also, the entire diplomatic corps of the Fifth Republic has been recalled and will be evacuated in the near future.

For a month, diplomats sat on the territory of the embassy due to numerous protests in Niamey and a warrant issued for their arrest by the new authorities.

French business is in no hurry to go anywhere and continues its active activities in the country. And diplomats and the military who are hated by Nigerians will be recalled.

At the same time, in light of the new strategy of Paris to concentrate the main efforts on the economy and reduce the military presence, the French government along the way plans to reduce the contingent not only in Niger, but also in Africa as a whole. For the same reason, the troops will be withdrawn immediately to France, and not to neighboring Chad.

US considers option to physically eliminate "putschist leaders"

The United States is considering the option of physically eliminating the "putschist leaders" who came to power in Niger, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service reported in September 2023.

Representatives of the American special services directly discuss with partners potential perpetrators of possible attempts, the department said.

President Mohamed Bazuma ousted by military led by Gen. Salifu Modi

On July 28, 2023, Niger's president is being held by soldiers amid ongoing talks to end the coup. Colonel Amadou Abdraman announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazum from power, General Salifu Modi was announced as the head of the interim government.

Land and air borders are closed, a curfew has been imposed until further notice.

President Bazum was detained by palace guards on July 27. The military group said it was "done with the regime" due to the "continuous deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance."

In the capital of Niger, Niamey, on July 28, mass rallies are held in support of a military coup.

People urge the authorities to repeat the path of Mali and Burkina Faso and reduce France's influence in the country. Some protesters also carried Russian flags and shouted pro-Russian slogans.

A few riots began in the capital. Some supporters of the coup began to attack representatives of the displaced government.

The main headquarters of the presidential "Party for Democracy and Socialism" was plundered. Protesters burn down the building and cars.

The leaders of the rebellion announced their victory and support from the security forces, and also called on citizens to end the unrest on the streets of the capital.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that Niger President Mohamed Bazum is not in danger of safety and his health, despite being in custody.

Also, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the rebels to establish a dialogue with Bazum and the world community.

The French media believe that the Niger army "deceived" France's expectations by siding with the conspirators, and former President Mahamadou Issoufou is behind the putsch.

The European Union does not recognize the new government in Niger, which was formed after the rebellion, said the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell.

On July 31, 2023, Burkina Faso and Mali announced that they would consider the intervention in Niger a declaration of war. The countries warned that the intervention would lead to "the adoption of self-defence measures in support of the people and armed forces of Niger" and the withdrawal of Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The France embassy in Niger announced the evacuation of French citizens from the country in the near future. Italy following France announced the organization of an evacuation flight from Niger for its citizens.

After the coup, Niger tailors hastily manufacture Russian flags, which began to be in demand among the country's citizens celebrating the revolution against the dominance of neocolonizers from France.

It echoes a similar rise in pro-Russian sentiment following recent military coups elsewhere in West Africa, which worries Western powers who see their influence waning in some countries - old regional allies.

The flags of neighboring Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, where military coups have also taken place since 2020, are also popular. Support for Russia is accompanied by an increase in anti-French sentiment throughout West Africa.

2020

Legalizing wiretapping

In May 2020, the Parliament of Niger passed a scandalous bill legalizing wiretapping to counter "terrorism and international crime," and Justice Minister Maru Amadou retorted opposition outrage in such terms: "Were you afraid that you would be wiretapped? So know: you have been listened to before, you are being listened to now. It's just going to be organised now.'

The pretext for such an act of liberticide is called the deteriorating operational situation. Three regions of the country - Tillaberi, Diffa and Tahua - have long had states of emergency, and leaky borders are increasingly being tested for strength by jihadists from al-Qaeda, Islamic State and Boko Haram.

Niger is the most important US military outpost in Africa

Long seen as a corner of stability surrounded by poorly governed Mali, Libya and Nigeria, Niger remains the last stronghold of order in the chaos-sliding Sahel and the main regulator of the flow of refugees to the EU. Therefore, Niger became a key link in the US military logistics infrastructure in Africa - a large desert intersection with a police booth pumped up by military supplies and instructors. Since November 2019, the US Air Force has begun reconnaissance flights from the newest base of the US African Command - Air Base 201, five kilometers from the city of Agadez in central Niger. The United States considers this base to be the most important in the anti-terrorist security system in Africa.

Niger also has regional ambitions - in 2020, the capital Niamey was elected the headquarters of the future Coalition for the Sahel, an anti-terrorist bloc of five Sahel countries with the participation of France. And the socialist president, Mahamadou Issoufou, who heads Niger, disputes the primacy in Socintern from the "governor-general" of African socialists - the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde.

Contrasts are here at every turn. While Niamey literally turns from a cluttered hole to a modern and comfortable city with lighting, clean streets, decent roads, decent restaurants, a fashionable and modern airport, Agadez remains in many ways a medieval city with craft workshops and bazaars, which in recent years has turned from a tourist mecca into the largest transshipment point for migrants rushing to Europe.

In the Agadez area, social life is still regulated by traditional chiefs, nobles and marabuts - just as it was 100 or 500 years ago.

2019

Mali militants kill 73 Nigerian soldiers

In December 2019, Islamist militants killed 73 soldiers during an attack on a remote military camp in Niger near the border with Mali.

Several hundred militants invaded Niger from southeastern Mali and surrounded the base near the city of Inates on three sides. The battle involving artillery and suicide bombers in cars lasted three hours, army spokesman Colonel Boubacar Hassan said on state television.

73 dead and 12 wounded soldiers are known, about 30 soldiers are missing. The militants lost 57 people. In the same area, the West African branch of Islamic State killed about 50 Nigerian soldiers in May and July.

12 soldiers killed and 8 injured after gunmen attack overnight in Southeast

The attackers are believed to belong to Boko Haram, the country's defense ministry said.

"On the night of October 29-30, 2019, an unknown armed persons very likely belonging to the Boko Haram terrorist group attacked a military post in the Diffa region," the ministry said in a statement.

The popularity of plastic kettles

Senegalese plastic kettles are used by West Africans to wash in bathrooms.

They can be found almost everywhere in Senegal and the Gambia - with the help of plastic kettles, Muslims bathe before prayer.

The 1970th

1959: Approval of the flag of the country

The flag of Niger was approved on November 23, 1959 before gaining independence from French West Africa. Like the flags of many former  colonies of France, the flag of Niger is a tricolor. The upper orange strip symbolizes the sands of the Sahara desert in the north of the country, the central white strip represents purity and simplicity, and the lower green strip represents hope and, at the same time, the fertile lands of southern Niger. The orange circle in the center is a symbol of the sun. Traditionally, the flag is depicted with an aspect ratio of 6:7, however, various variations are used by government agencies in Niger for 2024, on official documents there are images of the flag with proportions of 2:3, 3:5 and 1:2. The Constitution of Niger does not describe the proportions of the national flag.

1914

Sport

2022: The most popular sport is football

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