Niger Republic Missions

Missionaries Serving:

Steve and Ann Lutz

Capital

Niamey (392,200, 1988 est.)

System of Government

Unitary Multiparty Republic

Area

1,267,000 Sq Km (489,191 Sq Mi) (twice the size of Texas)

Estimated 2000 Population

10,284,300

Geography

Around 80% of Nigeria is arid desert while the remainder is savannah. The northern region is characterized by sandy basins, low plateaux, isolated hills, peaks and sandstone or limestone bluffs. In the northwest the Tamgak Mountains rise from the Iferouane Valley. The north central area has a volcanic Air Massif which contains deep valleys where there is dense vegetation. To the far east is the Tenere, a sandy and arid desert.

Climate

Niger is located in West Africa. It is bound by Libya to the northeast, Algeria to the northwest, Mali to the west, Burkina Faso to the southwest, Benin and Nigeria to the south and Chad to the east. Niger has a hot and dry climate with cooler conditions from November to February. The rainy season lasts from June to October. The average temperature ranges in Niamey are from 57 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 81 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit in May.

People

Approximately 80% of the population is comprised of various Black African tribes which include the Hausa, Songhai, Djerma, Fulani, Beriberi-Manga and Tuareg. Ethnic aliens include minorities of Europeans, mainly French descendants.

Vital Statistics

Life Expectancy at Birth: 42.9 yearsmale, 46.1 years female (1990). Infant Mortality Rate: 135.0 per 1,000 live births (1990). HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate: 1.35% (1999 est.).

Religions

Around 80% of the people are Sunni Muslims, 20% follow local native tribal beliefs and .5% are Christians. Niger has religious freedom, but with strong Islamic tendencies. This Muslim land is open for the Gospel, but there are too few missionaries to cover all the opportunities.

Languages

The official language is French which is only spoken by a minority. Each tribal group has its own language. The major national languages are Djerma and Hausa.

History

In December 1958 Niger became an autonomous republic within the French Community, and in 1960 it declared its full independence with Hamani Diori as President. In the early 1970’s a severe drought struckNiger causing widespread food shortages and famine. In 1975 a military coup led by Lt. Colonel Seyni Kountche ousted the government, suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly. Kountche established a Military Council to rule the country with himself as President. In 1976 and 1983 there were unsuccessful coup attempts against the Military Council. In 1987 a charter was approved for the eventual return to civil rule. In November 1987 Kountche died and the Army’s chief-of-staff, Colonel Ali Saibou succeeded him as President. In 1990 protest demonstrations and strikes took place resulting in a constitutional amendment that legalized opposition political parties. In 1991, after more strikes and demonstrations, the National Conference of Niger convened and delegates elected Andre Salifou as President. The same year the economy continued to suffer due to severe drought, and an influx of grasshoppers. In 1993 Niger held its first free and open elections since independence from France 33 years earlier. Mahamane Ousmane of the Alliance of the Forces of Change won Presidential elections. Coups took place in 1996 and 1999, and President Ibrahim Bare was assassinated on April 9, 1999. The National Reconciliation Council was created to effect a transition to civilian rule, and in December 1999 Mamadou Tandja was elected president.