Niger: There is more to troubled country than coups

For the last few weeks, Niger’s reputation has been associated with turmoil and chaos due to an ongoing coup. However, this West African country is not all about infighting. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to the largest landlocked country in the Sahel region.
Neighboring countries surrounding Niger include Mali, Chad, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, and Algeria. Most of these countries are in the Sahara Desert which covers 80% of Niger’s land.
Despite having lots of dry land, agriculture is the most practiced human activity, providing an occupation for more than half of Niger’s population.
Population
It experiences a rapid growth of population that currently stands at 27,202,843 million, with a majority of them being between 0-14 years of age.
There is often power supply disruptions in parts of Niger, according to an electricity company.
Most Nigeriens do not conform to the use of contraceptives which are readily available, hence the rapid population growth.
Independence
Niger became a republic on 18 December, 1958, when the Presidency of the Republic of Niger was created. It officially gained its independence from France in August 1960.
On the same day since 1975, trees are planted across the country as a way of fighting desertification.
Niger has had a total of 11 Heads of State, but only five have served as presidents of the republic with the rest being military juntas. The most recent coup replaced elected President Mohamed Bazoum with a military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani.
A similar situation was experienced in 1974, 1996, 1999, and 2010 as different military groups staged successful coups.
Resources
Apart from its rich culture, Niger is an endless pit of natural resources including uranium, coal, gold, iron ore, tin, phosphates, petroleum, molybdenum, salt, and gypsum.
In 2022, Niger was the second-best African producer of Uranium after Namibia./Photo Courtesy
Speaking of uranium, as of 2022, Niger was the second-best African producer after Namibia. It remains the largest supplier of the radioactive element to European nations. However, this country is counted as one of the poorest in Africa, with most of its government budget being sponsored by international aid.
The economy is unstable due to frequent fluctuations in the prices of uranium. Additionally, the country experiences a lot of political instability, which reflects on the economy.
Religion
At least 90% of the citizens practice Islam, with a small number being distributed to Christianity and Animism (the belief that every object, creature, and place possesses a distinct spiritual essence).
Language
Since they were assimilated by France during colonialism, French is the official language, although other cultural languages exist such as Hausa, Zarma/Songhai, Tamajeq, Fulfulde, Kanuri, Arabic, Gurmantche, and Toubou.
Hausa is the most spoken language by more than half of Nigeriens.
Culture
Culturally, Nigeriens have a very distinct dress code. The men wear a whitish long robe that goes down to the ankles, a boo-boo, and some pants to complete the outfit. The ladies dress in a silky bright-colored wrap-around skirt and style it with matching silky velvet tops.
Both men and women also include a head wrap in the dressing.
Nomads in the country gather annually for three days during the late days of September to celebrate Cure Salée, French for “Salt Cure”, a festival aimed at marking the end of a rainy season.
Member State
Niger is a member of several international organizations including the Economic Community of West African States, the Organization of African Unity, and the United Nations.
Agencies