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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (428961)	7/18/2003 10:40:04 AM
From: sandintoes	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Study up and see why the French are involved.. news.bbc.co.uk Country profile: Niger A vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger has suffered austere military rule for most of the years since independence from France in 1960 and is rated by the UN as one of the world's poorest nations. The non-payment of government salaries regularly leads to strikes by civil servants and to mutinies by soldiers, making Niger susceptible to pressure from foreign donors and creditors. OVERVIEW OVERVIEW \| FACTS \| LEADERS \| MEDIA Historically a gateway between North and sub-Saharan Africa, Niger came under French rule in the late 1890s. After independence, its progress was stymied by political instability and a five-year-long drought, which devastated its livestock and crop production. With a mere 29% of primary school-age children receiving education, Niger has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Likewise, its health system is rudimentary, and disease is widespread. In 1990 a revolt by Tuareg tribes, who accused the government of failing to deliver on promised economic aid, developed into an armed rebellion, ending only in the mid-1990s. In 1999 voters overwhelmingly approved a new constitution providing for presidential and legislative multiparty elections. These took place later in the year and saw Mamadou Tandja elected president and his party, the National Movement for the Society in Development, winning a majority of seats in parliament. FACTS OVERVIEW \| FACTS \| LEADERS \| MEDIA NIGER FACTS Population: 12 million (UN, 2003) Capital: Niamey Major languages: French (official), Arabic, Hausa, Songhai Major religions: Islam, indigenous beliefs Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes Main exports: Uranium, livestock products Average annual income: US $180 (World Bank, 2001) Internet domain: .ne International dialling code: +227 LEADERS OVERVIEW \| FACTS \| LEADERS \| MEDIA President: Mamadou Tandja President Mamadou: known for being a rigorous and tireless worker A retired lieutenant-colonel, Mamadou Tandja, elected president in 1999, is known for being a rigorous and tireless worker. Born in 1938, he participated in the coup which overthrew Diori Hamani, Niger's first elected president, in 1974, and subsequently served as interior minister. He stood in the presidential election of 1993, but was beaten by Mahamane Ousmane. In 1996 he again ran for president, but lost to the incumbent ruler, Ibrahim Mainassara. MEDIA The advent of a multiparty constitution in 1999 raised hopes for positive changes in the media. The government continues to control much of the nation's broadcasting, though private radio stations have started to proliferate. Radio is the most important outlet for news and information, owing to low literacy levels. Niger has one government-run daily newspaper and more than a dozen private papers, some strongly partisan. Radio France Internationale operates FM relays in the capital Niamey, and in Maradi and Zinder provinces. BBC World Service programmes are available on FM in the capital and in Zinder. The press Le Sahel - government-owned newspaper Le Republicain - weekly newspaper Television Tele-Sahel - single-channel government-owned TV Tenere TV - private Niamey station Telestar - subscription service offering viewers in Naimey a selection of five channels Radio La Voix du Sahel - state-run, and the only national radio station; broadcasts in French, Arabic, Hausa and vernacular languages Anfani FM - private network established with the aim of promoting social development, health, education Tambara FM - private station, formed with the aim of promoting the cause of women and children R&M (Radio et Musique) - Niamey-based; Niger's first private radio station Tenere FM - Niamey-based private station Africa No 1 - Pan-African radio, broadcasting in French and relayed in Niamey on FM Email this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE COUNTRY PROFILES STORIES SelectCountry profile: Cape VerdeCountry profile: MauritiusCountry profile: BotswanaCountry profile: Burkina FasoCountry profile: CameroonCountry profile: AngolaCountry profile: TanzaniaCountry profile: ZambiaCountry profile: UgandaCountry profile: TogoCountry profile: SwazilandCountry profile: South AfricaCountry profile: SomaliaCountry profile: Sierra LeoneCountry profile: SeychellesCountry profile: SenegalCountry profile: Sao Tome and PrincipeCountry profile: RwandaCountry profile: NigeriaCountry profile: NigerCountry profile: MozambiqueCountry profile: MaliCountry profile: MalawiCountry profile: MadagascarCountry profile: LiberiaCountry profile: LesothoCountry profile: NamibiaCountry profile: BeninCountry profile: Central African RepublicCountry profile: ChadCountry profile: ComorosCountry profile: KenyaCountry profile: GabonCountry profile: Guinea-BissauCountry profile: GuineaCountry profile: GhanaCountry profile: GambiaCountry profile: EthiopiaCountry profile: EritreaCountry profile: Equatorial GuineaCountry profile: DjiboutiCountry profile: Democratic Republic of CongoCountry profile: Ivory CoastCountry profile: Republic of CongoTimeline: Burkina FasoTimeline: BurundiTimeline: Cape VerdeTimeline: CameroonTimeline: Republic of CongoTimeline: ChadTimeline: ComorosTimeline: DjiboutiTimeline: Equatorial GuineaTimeline: Central African RepublicTimeline: Democratic Republic of CongoTimeline: GabonTimeline: EritreaTimeline: EthiopiaTimeline: GambiaTimeline: GhanaTimeline: GuineaTimeline: Guinea-BissauTimeline: Ivory CoastTimeline: KenyaTimeline: LiberiaTimeline: NigerTimeline: RwandaTimeline: SenegalTimeline: NigeriaTimeline: SeychellesTimeline: Sierra LeoneTimeline: SomaliaTimeline: South AfricaTimeline: TanzaniaTimeline: TogoTimeline: UgandaTimeline: Sao Tome and PrincipeTimeline: NamibiaTimeline: ZambiaTimeline: MadagascarTimeline: ZimbabweTimeline: AngolaTimeline: LesothoTimeline: MozambiqueTimeline: MaliCountry profile: BurundiCountry profile: ZimbabweTimeline: Mauritania