Niger gained its independence from France in the year 1960, and was ruled by single party establishments and the military until 1993. Political instability and a series of military coups have shaped Niger’s political environment. Current President Issoufou Mahamadou was reelected in 2016. Violent extremists in countries surrounding Niger have caused unrest and security concerns within the country. Large uranium deposits, as well as the harvesting of crops and livestock account for the majority of Niger’s GDP.

• Country Profile
  • Land Mass/Major Cities – The capital city of Niger is Niamey, and Nigeria borders Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Niger is a landlocked nation.
  • Languages – French (official), Hausa, Djerma
• Business Activity
  • Agriculture – Camels, cassava, cattle, cotton, cowpeas, donkeys, goats, horses, millet, peanuts, poultry, rice, sheep, and sorghum
  • Industries – Brick, cement, chemicals, food processing, petroleum, slaughterhouses, soap, textiles, and uranium mining
  • Natural Resources – Coal, gold, gypsum, iron ore, molybdenum, petroleum, phosphates, salt, tin, and uranium
  • Exports – Cowpeas, livestock, onions, and uranium ore
  • Imports – Cereals, foodstuffs, machinery, petroleum, and vehicles and parts
  • Major Trading Partners – Belgium, China, Cote d’Ivoire, France, French Polynesia, Nigeria, Togo, and the United States

Source: CIA. (2017). The World Factbook: Niger. CIA. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ng.html