Niger

Niger's social networks are characterized by indigenous, ethnic networks. The Niger of today evolved geographically from large African kingdom states, with overlapping territory into surrounding countries like Mali and Burkina Faso. Niger shares history and social networks with Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Chad to the east, and Algeria and Libya to the north. Some of the ethnic groups that covered Niger territory included the Fulani, Tuareg, Songhai, Hausa, Mali, Dendi, Gao, and Kanem-Bornu. Today, the major ethnic groups are Hausa (55 percent), Djerma Sonrai (21 percent), and Tuareg (9 percent). On the whole, the communities are rural, with only 16 percent urbanization in 2008.

Niger has served as part of the trade route across the Sahara to the Mediterranean for centuries. Merchants relied upon social networks to navigate across the Sahara and profitably trade goods such as salt and gold. This trade route and the social networks created by it, as well as the Songhai, Tuareg, and Fulani Empires, were all significant in spreading Islam in Niger. Today, around 80 percent of Nigeriens identify with the Islamic faith.

It was not until the 19th century that Niger had direct contact with Europeans. The first contact came from European explorers like Heinrich Barth of Germany. However, it was at the Berlin Conference of 1884–85 that the French were given rights to Niger and surrounding countries. The French were unable to colonize Niger until the 1920s. In this period, Niger was centrally administered from the French government in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and had a local governor.

Niger achieved citizenship with the French constitution of 1946, and administration was shifted to Niger from Senegal. However, Nigeriens did not have full autonomy with restrictions on local assemblies. Some of the Nigerien political parties during this period were the Nigerien Progressive Party–African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Union of Popular Forces for Democracy, [Page 657]and Progress–Sawaba (UDFP–Sawaba), and Niger Action Bloc.

After Independence in 1960

When Niger gained independence from France in 1960, the stage for its modern political history and networks was set. The heritage of the independent states, or separate ethnic identities, over the short history of a single nation might explain the turbulent political history of Niger, which has had five constitutions and more than three military coups and periods of rule in the last 50 years. The dominant political parties that arose include the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP–Jama'a), Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS–Tarayya), National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD–Nassara), and Democratic and Social Convention (CDS–Rahama).

Drought-stricken villagers wait to receive food distributed by nongovernmental organizations and a government committee.

The last military coup occurred in February 2010, when then-president Mamadou Tandja tried to change the constitution in order to campaign for a third term. The military transition government set up democratic elections for January 2011.

Niger's migrant network was estimated at 437,000 in 2005, according to the World Bank. The top migration locations are nearby countries of Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Chad, Benin, and Togo. Many male Nigeriens seasonally migrate between January and April after harvest to supplement subsistence livelihoods. This migration, which has existed for centuries, is called Exode and relies upon the creation and maintenance of international social networks between the migrant Nigeriens and their seasonal employers. The largest migration networks of Nigeriens outside Africa are found in France, Italy, Germany, and the United States. These migrants create new social networks in their host countries and maintain social networks with friends and family in Niger.

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