Niger Independence Day

Niger celebrates its Independence Day on 3rd August. Niger acquired freedom from France in 1960. It was under the control of France for a long time which had set up its colonies in Niger.

Niger was placed under the control of France at the Conference of Berlin in 1884-85. The country was thus a French colony influenced by France’s colonial policies. The French began to expand their influence by establishing military posts in different parts of the region including Southern Niger during the 1890s. However, the French failed to capture Agadez and encountered strong resistance from Tuareg.

In 1900, Niger was transformed into a military territory. Located in the region of the Upper-Senegal-Niger, it was designated as another colony in the French West African region with its capital at Zinder. Post 1926, the capital was shifted to Niamey. The French colonists did not alter the contemporary governmental structure and carried out the administrative functions within the existing framework.

Niger attained complete independence from French control in 1960 after which Hamari Dioni was elected as the first president of the country. Independence Day in Niger marked the end of a prolonged period of French dominion. On August 3rd 2008, Niger will celebrate its 48th year of independence.