Niger

Niger A landlocked republic in West Africa. It was brought under French control between 1896 and 1900, and remained under military rule until most resistance was broken. A civilian-ruled colony was established in 1892. It became an autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958 and fully independent in 1960, with special arrangements with France covering finance, defence, technical development, and cultural affairs. The one-party state that emerged after independence under the leadership of Hamani Diori became notable for its corruption, and did not survive drought and economic decline. It was toppled on 15 April 1974 in a coup d'état, which brought to power Seyni Kountche (b. 1931). He established authoritarian military rule and a socialist regime. Increasing resentment of the lack of economic progress forced him gradually to introduce civilian rule, which was confirmed by a referendum on a constitutional charter in 1987.

The first free parliamentary elections for twenty years took place in February 1993, and in the elections of 27 March 1993 the leader of the opposition, Mahamane Ousmane, was elected president. He was deposed in a military coup of 27 January 1996, led by Ibrahim Bara Mainassara. Mainassara became President, and was concerned to open up the army and connect it more closely to society. He was shot in 1999, and after a short interlude in which the military assumed political power, elections were held in which Mamadou Tandja obtained the Presidency. His party, the Mouvement National de la Société et Développement (MNSD, National Movement of Society and Development), became the strongest party in parliament, and proceeded to form a coalition government. One of the world's poorest countries, Niger had a GDP per head of $190 in 2000, with two-thirds of the population living below the poverty line. In 2002 Tandja's authority was challenged by an army mutiny demanding better conditions and pay, but order was restored after several days.