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Description Niger by rbd.me
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Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a counter coup by military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his term as president. In February 2010, a military coup deposed TANDJA, immediately suspended the constitution and dissolved the Cabinet, and promised that elections would be held following a transitional period of unspecified duration. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 limited the rebels' operational capabilities.
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Location
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Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
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Area - comparative
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Natural resources Niger
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predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
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Population Niger
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landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
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Religions Niger
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Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
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Languages
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Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
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Education Niger expenditures
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French (official), Hausa, Djerma
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Government Niger type
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3.4% of GDP (2006)
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Independence
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8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
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Niger Economy - overview
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three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band
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Investment Niger
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50.5 (1995)
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Industries Niger
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uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
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Airports Niger
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300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2008)
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