THE military government of Niger has officially made Hausa the country’s new national language, moving away from its colonial past where French played a central role. The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal. According to the document, “The national language … Read more
NIGER’S military rulers have released around 50 political detainees, including several former government ministers and army officers, in a move framed as part of a national reconciliation effort. The release comes more than eighteen months after the July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power. According to a … Read more
NIGER’S ruling military junta has officially announced a five-year timeline to restore constitutional rule, beginning from Wednesday. The declaration was made during a formal signing ceremony for a new transition charter, signalling the start of what the junta describes as a roadmap to civilian governance, Reuters reported . The West African country has been under military control … Read more
NIGER’S military leadership has enacted a new constitutional framework that sets a five-year period for transition to civilian governance, formally establishing General Abdourahamane Tiani as transitional president. The move was sealed during an official ceremony to implement the Refoundation Charter, a document that reshapes the country’s political and institutional landscape following the July 2023 military coup … Read more
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday condemned the recent attack on a mosque in Kokorou village, western Niger. No fewer than 44 worshippers were killed and 20 injured in the attack on Friday. Assailants from the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) – an ISIL affiliate – had surrounded … Read more
NIGER’S military-led government has formally announced its withdrawal from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), deepening its rift with former colonial power France. The move, reported by AFP, follows a series of political realignments since the military coup in July 2023. In a statement released on Monday, March 17, Niger’s foreign ministry confirmed the decision, stating: ‘The … Read more
NIGER is set to begin copper mining in its northern desert, marking a major step in diversifying its mineral output. The government has granted a permit to national mining firm Compagnie Minière de l’Air (Cominair SA) to start extraction in the Agadez region, according to an official statement released on February 23, 2025. Already known … Read more
A MILITARY-LED commission in Niger has proposed a five-year transition before restoring civilian rule, following national discussions, officials announced on state TV. The proposal comes after Niger’s 2023 military coup, which saw the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum. The junta had initially suggested a three-year transition, but that was rejected by ECOWAS, West Africa’s regional bloc. … Read more
NIGER has made history as the first African country to eliminate river blindness, a parasitic disease that is one of the world’s leading causes of blindness, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Thursday. According to WHO, Niger is ‘the fifth country globally and the first in Africa to be acknowledged for interrupting transmission of the parasite Onchocerca … Read more
NIGER has taken another step in its campaign to remove colonial influences by renaming several streets and squares in the capital, Niamey. The move replaces French-era names with those of national figures, reflecting the country’s growing push for self-determination following the military-led government’s takeover in 2023. Colonel Boubacar Suman Garanke, head of Niamey’s administration, announced … Read more