Government and Politics of Niger

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

7 departments (departements, singular - departement) and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Legal System

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 Abdourahamane TCHIANI (since 28 July 2023); note - General TCHIANI assumed power following a military coup that deposed elected President Mohamed BAZOUM on 26 July 2023 head of government: Prime Minister Ali MAHAMAN LAMINE ZEINE (since 9 August 2023); appointed by General TCHIANI following the coup; the CNSP has suspended the constitution and dissolved government institutions, concentrating executive authority within the military council cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the CNSP following the suspension of constitutional governance elections: Prior to the coup, the president was elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the most recent democratic presidential election was held in February 2021, in which Mohamed BAZOUM won with approximately 55.7% of the vote in the second round, defeating Mahamadou ISSOUFOU's former ally Mahamane OUSMANE; all electoral and constitutional processes have been suspended under the current military administration election results: Mohamed BAZOUM was elected president in the February 2021 runoff with approximately 55.7% of the vote versus Mahamane OUSMANE's 44.3%; BAZOUM was subsequently deposed in a military coup on 26 July 2023 and remains detained by the CNSP

Legislative Branch

Following a military coup in July 2023, Niger's democratic institutions were suspended. Prior to the coup, the country operated under a unicameral National Assembly composed of 171 seats, with members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. The most recent legislative elections under the democratic system were held on December 27, 2020, in which the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya) secured the largest share of seats, followed by the Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation (MODEN-FA Lumana), the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD-Nassara), and several smaller parties. Following the July 26, 2023 coup led by the Presidential Guard, the ruling junta — the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) — dissolved all constitutional and republican institutions, including the National Assembly. Legislative activity has since been suspended, with governing authority held by the military council. The junta has indicated intentions to eventually restore civilian governance but has not committed to a firm electoral timeline recognized by international bodies. Niger's political situation remains in transition as of 2024.

Judicial Branch

State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political Parties

Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN [leader NA]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]

Head of State

President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahamane TCHIANI

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ali MAHAMAN LAMINE ZEINE

Cabinet

26-member Cabinet appointed by the president (Cabinet dissolved following the 18 February 2010 coup)

Election Results

Niger held its most recent successful democratic presidential election in December 2020 and February 2021, marking a historic milestone as the country's first peaceful transfer of power between two elected civilian presidents. The election was conducted in two rounds, with Mohamed Bazoum of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya) emerging as the winner. In the first round held on December 27, 2020, no candidate secured the required absolute majority. Bazoum led the field with approximately 39.3 percent of the vote, followed by former president Mahamane Ousmane of the Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation (MODEN/FA Lumana), who received around 16.9 percent. Seven other candidates split the remaining votes among them. The runoff election took place on February 21, 2021. Bazoum won decisively with roughly 55.7 percent of the vote, defeating Ousmane, who received approximately 44.3 percent. Ousmane and his supporters initially contested the results, alleging fraud, but the Constitutional Court confirmed Bazoum's victory. Bazoum was inaugurated on April 2, 2021, becoming Niger's first president to assume power through a constitutional handover from a predecessor. However, Niger's democratic trajectory was abruptly interrupted on July 26, 2023, when members of the presidential guard staged a military coup, detaining President Bazoum and suspending the constitution. The junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, dissolved government institutions and declared a National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) in control of the country. The coup drew widespread international condemnation, including from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which imposed sanctions and initially threatened military intervention. As of the time of this writing, Bazoum remained detained and no new elections had been scheduled, leaving Niger's political future uncertain.

Constitution

the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999

Independence

3 August 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MICAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Fatima Djibo SIDIKOU chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227 FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John DAVISON embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: [227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46

Capital City

Niamey

Location

13 31 N, 2 07 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

according to tradition, the site was originally a fishing village named after a prominent local tree referred to as "nia niam"

Embassy Niamey Address: The U.S. Embassy is located on Rue des Ambassades, Niamey, Niger. The U.S. Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 11201, Niamey, Niger. Telephone: 227-20-72-26-61 through 64 Emergency after-hours telephone: 227-20-72-31-41 Facsimile: 227- 20-73-31-67 or 20-72-31-46

Military Branches

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger)

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the presumed legal minimum age for compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care