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Niger
Capital: Niamey; Area: 1,267 million km²; Population: 22.77 million
A French-speaking Sahelo-Saharan country in West Africa, Niger is bordered to the north by Algeria and Libya, to the south by Nigeria and Benin, to the east by Chad and to the west by Mali and Burkina Faso. Niger was proclaimed an autonomous republic on December 18, 1958. It gained independence on August 3, 1960. Niger is one of the hottest countries in Africa with daytime maxima around 40°C in April-May. Precipitation is insufficient and irregular in time and space. The prevailing winds are the harmattan and the monsoon.
We can distinguish 11 officially recognized ethnolinguistic groups which are distinguished from each other by particular characteristics, each with a specific zone of occupation. These are the Hausa, the Zama-Sonraï, the Peulh, the Touareg, the Kanouri, the Arabs, the Gourmantché, the Toubou, the Boudouma, the Issawaghan and the Igdalan.
The country is crossed over a distance of 550 km by the Niger River, 4,200 km long. It includes several peaks, the most dominant of which are Mount Bagzan (2022 m), Mount Greboun (1945 m) and Mount Tamgak (1800 m). The country's economy is based on agriculture, livestock and fishing. The artisanal sector is very developed. A country of tourist attraction, Niger is full of several tourist sites and wonders throughout the country. We can cite Park W, the Ténéré desert, the Aïr mountains, the palace of the Sultan of Zinder and the old town of Agadez, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. In addition to these tourist sites and wonders, there are numerous cultural and/or traditional festivals.
