The Government of Niger - The World Countries

Niger - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Niger, it was named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir". The Government system in this country is the formerly, semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communaute urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

National symbols

Zebu; national colors: orange, white, green.

The flag

The National flag of Niger has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band; the orange band denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara; white stands for purity and innocence; green symbolizes hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the people.

note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

The National Anthem

Title	"La Nigerienne" (The Nigerien)
Lyric/music	Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET

note: adopted 1961

More about the government of Niger

Constitution
Date of Independence	3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday	Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
Legal system	note - following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010
Amendments	Formerly proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended; amended 2011, 2017
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 Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)
Head of government	CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by the CNSP; Cabinet previously appointed by the elected president
Elections/appointments	the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 December 2020 with a runoff held on 21 February 2021 (next election was to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly
Election results	2020/2021: Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%; percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3% 2016: ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%; percent of vote in second round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8%
Legislative branch
Description	Formerly the unicameral National Assembly (171 statutory seats - 166 currently; 158 members directly elected from 8 multi-member constituencies in 7 regions and Niamey by party-list proportional representation, 8 reserved for minorities elected in special single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 seats reserved for Nigeriens living abroad - 1 seat per continent - elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Last held on 27 December 2020 (prior to the military coup, next elections were to be held in December 2025)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 37%, MODEN/FA Lumana 8.7%, MPR-Jamhuriya 7.6%, MNSD-Nassara 6.8%, RDR-Tchanji 4.4%, CPR-Inganci 4.2%, MPN-Kishin Kassa 4%, PJP Generation Dubara 2.9%, ANDP Zaman Lahya 2.5%, RPP Farrilla 2.1%, ARD Adaltchi-Mutuntchi 1.7%, AMEN AMIN 1.4%, MDEN Falala 1.4%, other 15.3%; seats by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 79, MODEN/FA Lumana 19, MPR-Jamhuriya 14, MNSD-Nassara 13, CPR-Inganci 8, MPN-Kishin Kassa 6, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 3, RPP Farrilla 2, PJP Generation Dubara 2, ARD Adaltchi-Mutuntchi 2, AMEN AMIN 2, other 16; composition - men 115, women 51, percentage women 30.7%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Formerly the Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members)
Judge selection and term of office	Formerly, Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years; High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary; members serve 5-year terms
Subordinate courts	Formerly, Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)
Chancery	2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 483-4224
FAX	[1] (202) 483-3169
Email address and website	[email protected] http://www.embassyofniger.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)
Embassy	BP 11201, Niamey
Mailing address	2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420
Telephone	[227] 20-72-26-61
FAX	[227] 20-73-55-60
Email address and website	[email protected] https://ne.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)