African Environmental and Human Security in the 21st Century By ...

analysis of the country, an exploration of the terrorist threat, and a brief discussion of what is being done.

Background

Niger is three times the size of California, with a population of 11.3 million and growing at a rate of 3.3 percent. A continued growth rate at this level means that the population will double in twenty-one years. Niger's ethnic groups include 56 percent Hausa, 22 percent Djerma, 8.5 percent Fulani, 8 percent Tuareg, 4.3 percent Beri-Beri, and 1.2 percent Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche. The Hausa, Djerma, and Gourmantche are primarily sedentary farmers, while most of the other groups are nomadic. Ninety-five percent of the population is Islamic. Niger is listed last in the Human Development Index (HDI), with 232 dollars per capita and a literacy rate of only 15 percent.⁵⁷

Niger became a French colony in 1922 and was ruled by a governor general who resided in Dakar, Senegal, and a governor in Niger. Niger had some limited self-governing ability until 1958, when it became an autonomous state, and by 1960, when it became an independent state.⁵⁸ After independence, Niger was ruled by one party under President Hamani Diori. Corruption and drought led to a military coup, with Colonel Seyni Kountche ruling until his death in 1987. Colonel Ali Saibou, Kountche's chief of staff, took over and tried to liberalize Niger. He released political prisoners and established a new constitution, but the people were not satisfied. A national conference in 1991 paved the way for a transitional government as institutions were installed for the Third Republic in 1993. Although there were some successes of this republic, including a free press and free and fair elections, the economy declined. By 1996, Colonel Ibrahim Barre overthrew the Third Republic and established the Fourth Republic. However, Barre assumed the presidency under flawed electoral conditions and reversed advances in civil and political liberties. By 1999, Major Daouda Mallam Wanke overthrew Barre and established the Fifth Republic, which currently resembles the French semipresidential system. Mamadou Tandja won the presidency leading a National Movement for a Developing Society (MNSD) and