by
GAVIN V.

NATIONAL FLAG OF NIGER

LOCATION:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF NIGER

The country I am reporting on is Niger. Although the territory of Niger was put under the influence of France during the Conference of Berlin in 1884-1885, they only started a few military posts and did not occupy Niger until 1904.  This was due to resistance by the Tuaregs.  

The French did little to change how the county was ruled. They also did not provide much of any kind of economic development or any educational opportunities.  Niger is a landlocked country with no railroad, very few major roads and poor access to the sea.

Niger received its own assembly under the French constitution of 1946.  The Niger Progressive Party (PPN) was the first important political organization to be established.

Niger became fully independent on August 3, 1960.  The first president was Hamani Diori and he remained president until 1974.

From 1968-1975, Niger was adversely affected by the Sahelian drought.  The drought killed much of its livestock and caused crop production to be low.  President Diori was overthrown in 1974 by Lt. Col. Seyni Kountche in a military coup.  There was a uranium boom in the early 1980’s that caused inequalities in wealth which led to unhappiness and unrest.  A weak economy caused additional problems.

Right now the government is emerging from military rule and is turning into a republic. Niger is a very dry country and has lots of droughts and a few locust infestations. Some of the recent droughts and locust infestations have been pretty bad. It also is getting a new leader which may or may not help.

If the country had never been colonized I think there would be less educated people. And they would probably have less population if the French helped them out in the drought. Also the form of government might be different and Niger might be ruled by a dictator or something.

Works Cited

Flag and map courtesy of Microsoft Clipart Gallery.

Seffal, Rabah. Niger.

Infoplease. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108121.html

All Refer. http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/N/Niger-history.html