Colony of Niger
Encyclopedia
The French Colony of Niger
was a French Colonial possession
covering much of the territory of the modern West African state of Niger, as well as portions of Mali
, Burkina Faso
and Chad
. It existed in various forms from 1900 to 1960, but was titled the Colonie du Niger only from 1922 to 1958.
or north of Tanout
. Its Commandant was based at the village of Sorbo-Haoussa near Niamey
, where the headquarters was moved in 1903. Administratively, it was part of the Senegambia and Niger
Colony from 1900 to 1904 and Upper Senegal and Niger
colony from 1904 to 1911. While commanded by officers of the French Toupes du Marine, its budget and administration was dependent on the Lieutenant Governor at Kayes
(latter Bamako
), and military decision making -- as well as contact with authorities in the Metropole
or other colonies was through the Governor General in Dakar. The area also appears on French maps as the "Third Military Territory". On 22 June 1910, the territory was renamed Niger Military Territory, and included parts of modern northeast Mali (Gao
Cercle) and Northern Chad (Tibesti Cercle). On 21 June 1911 the Cercle of Gao
ceded to French Sudan
, and throughout the late nineteen-teens, efforts were made to establish permanent French posts in the north and east, in Bilma
, N'guigmi
and elsewhere. In 1911, the headquarters of the territory was moved to Zinder
, reflecting both the relative peacefulness of the west of the territory, and the fear of incursion from the British to the South and the Italians from Libya
. Despite this, French control of the northern and eastern areas remained minimal. Along with Mauritania
, Niger remained the only part of French West Africa
to remain under military rule.
. The 1919 creation of French Upper Volta
as a civil colony removed the areas of modern Niger west of the Niger River
. In 1926, the capitol was moved again to Niamey
from Zinder
. In 1930 Tibesti Cercle ceded to Chad
Colony in French Equatorial Africa
, and in 1932, the colony of French Upper Volta
was divided amongst its neighbors, with
the Cercles of Dori
and Fada N'gourma
ceded to Niger Colony.
and Agadez
were ceded to Niger Colony, leaving only Bilma
Cercle as the last military-run section of modern Niger. This area in the far north east only came under French civilian administration in 1956.
In 1947, French Upper Volta
was reconstituted, and the Cercles of Dori
and Fada N'Gourma
ceded to Upper Volta Colony. While there were minor border changes after 1947, the modern borders of Niger were roughly established with this change.
Following the 1956 Loi Cadre
, rudiments of internal rule were created with the Territorial Assembly of Niger elected by popular vote, but holding only advisory and administrative powers. In 1958 the French Union
succeed the French Community
On 25 August 1958, the Lieutenant Governor became High Commissioner of Niger, but remained Head of State of a quasi-independent state which controlled some purely internal administration.
The Constitution of 25 February 1959
was created by and then ratified vote of the Constituent Assembly of Niger, a body created for this purpose from the elected Territorial Assembly of Niger in December 1958. On 12 March 1959 the Constituent Assembly became the Legislative Assembly of Niger, with the head of government, Hamani Diori
, retaining the title of President of the Council. Nominal executive powers were vested in the Assembly. with the constitution establishing elements, such as the Flag of Niger
, the National anthem of Niger and the Coat of Arms of Niger
, along with language on naming of political bodies, rights and powers which have been retained in subsequent texts.
Following the Algerian War and the collapse of the French Fourth Republic
, the colonies of the French Union became fully independent in 1960. Niger ratified its first fully independent constitution on 8 November 1960 and Jean Colombani stepped down as High Commissioner on 10 November 1960.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
was a French Colonial possession
French colonial empire
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
covering much of the territory of the modern West African state of Niger, as well as portions of Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
. It existed in various forms from 1900 to 1960, but was titled the Colonie du Niger only from 1922 to 1958.
Military territory
While French control of some of the areas of modern Niger began in the 1890s, a formal Zinder Military Territory was formed on 23 July 1900. This military territory only governed what is modern southern Niger, with only nominal rule east of ZinderZinder
Zinder is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 by 2005 was estimated to be over 200,000...
or north of Tanout
Tanout
Tanout is a town in southern Niger. It is in Zinder Region, Tanout Department, north of the city of Zinder. It is the administrative capital of Tanout Department....
. Its Commandant was based at the village of Sorbo-Haoussa near Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
, where the headquarters was moved in 1903. Administratively, it was part of the Senegambia and Niger
Senegambia and Niger
Senegambia and Niger was a short-lived administrative unit of the French possessions in Africa, formed in 1902 and reorganized in 1904 into Upper Senegal and Niger....
Colony from 1900 to 1904 and Upper Senegal and Niger
Upper Senegal and Niger
Upper Senegal and Niger was a colony in French West Africa created in 1904 from Senegambia and Niger. Niger became a separate military district in 1911 and a separate colony in 1922, Upper Volta was split off in 1919, and the remainder reorganized as French Sudan in 1920...
colony from 1904 to 1911. While commanded by officers of the French Toupes du Marine, its budget and administration was dependent on the Lieutenant Governor at Kayes
Kayes
Kayes is a city in western Mali on the Sénégal River, with a population of roughly 100,000 people. Kayes is the capital of the administrative region of the same name. The name "Kayes" comes from the Soninké word "karré", which describes a low humid place that floods in rainy season...
(latter Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
), and military decision making -- as well as contact with authorities in the Metropole
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
or other colonies was through the Governor General in Dakar. The area also appears on French maps as the "Third Military Territory". On 22 June 1910, the territory was renamed Niger Military Territory, and included parts of modern northeast Mali (Gao
Gao
Gao is a town in eastern Mali on the River Niger lying ESE of Timbuktu. Situated on the left bank of the river at the junction with the Tilemsi valley, it is the capital of the Gao Region and had a population of 86,663 in 2009....
Cercle) and Northern Chad (Tibesti Cercle). On 21 June 1911 the Cercle of Gao
Gao
Gao is a town in eastern Mali on the River Niger lying ESE of Timbuktu. Situated on the left bank of the river at the junction with the Tilemsi valley, it is the capital of the Gao Region and had a population of 86,663 in 2009....
ceded to French Sudan
French Sudan
French Sudan was a colony in French West Africa that had two separate periods of existence, first from 1890 to 1899, then from 1920 to 1960, when the territory became the independent nation of Mali.-Colonial establishment:...
, and throughout the late nineteen-teens, efforts were made to establish permanent French posts in the north and east, in Bilma
Bilma
Bilma is an oasis town in north east Niger with a population of around 2,500 people. It lies protected from the desert dunes under the Kaouar Cliffs and is the largest town along the Kaouar escarpment...
, N'guigmi
N'guigmi
N'guigmi is a city and Commune of fifteen thousand in the eastern most part of Niger, very near to Lake Chad - lying on its shore until the lake retreated....
and elsewhere. In 1911, the headquarters of the territory was moved to Zinder
Zinder
Zinder is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 by 2005 was estimated to be over 200,000...
, reflecting both the relative peacefulness of the west of the territory, and the fear of incursion from the British to the South and the Italians from Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. Despite this, French control of the northern and eastern areas remained minimal. Along with Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
, Niger remained the only part of French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
to remain under military rule.
Civilian colonial rule
On 13 October 1922 the civilian Colony of Niger took control of most of southern and western areas, with a Lieutenant governor reporting to the Governor General of French West AfricaFrench West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
. The 1919 creation of French Upper Volta
French Upper Volta
Upper Volta was a colony of French West Africaestablished on March 1, 1919, from territories that had been part of the colonies of Upper Senegal and Niger and the Côte d'Ivoire...
as a civil colony removed the areas of modern Niger west of the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
. In 1926, the capitol was moved again to Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
from Zinder
Zinder
Zinder is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 by 2005 was estimated to be over 200,000...
. In 1930 Tibesti Cercle ceded to Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
Colony in French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert.-History:...
, and in 1932, the colony of French Upper Volta
French Upper Volta
Upper Volta was a colony of French West Africaestablished on March 1, 1919, from territories that had been part of the colonies of Upper Senegal and Niger and the Côte d'Ivoire...
was divided amongst its neighbors, with
the Cercles of Dori
Dori, Burkina Faso
Dori is a town in northeastern Burkina Faso. It is located at around . It is the capital of Sahel Region and has a population of 17 675. The main ethnic group is the Fula .- Mines :...
and Fada N'gourma
Fada N'gourma
Fada N'gourma, also written Fada-Ngourma, is a city in eastern Burkina Faso, lying east of Ouagadougou, in the Gourmantché area. It is the capital of the Gourma province. It was founded by Diaba Lompo as Bingo. It is known for its blanket and rug manufacturing. It is also famed for its honey...
ceded to Niger Colony.
World War II
Niger Colony officials, unlike neighboring Chad, remained loyal to the French Vichy government after 1940, and thus closed its southern border (to Nigeria) and eastern border until 1944.Decolonisation
On 31 December 1946 the Military Territories of N'GuigmiN'guigmi
N'guigmi is a city and Commune of fifteen thousand in the eastern most part of Niger, very near to Lake Chad - lying on its shore until the lake retreated....
and Agadez
Agadez
-Sources:* Aboubacar Adamou. "Agadez et sa région. Contribution à l'étude du Sahel et du Sahara nigériens", Études nigériennes, n°44, , 358 p.* Julien Brachet. Migrations transsahariennes. Vers un désert cosmopolite et morcelé . Paris: Le Croquant, , 324 p. ISBN : 978-2-91496865-2.*. Saudi Aaramco...
were ceded to Niger Colony, leaving only Bilma
Bilma
Bilma is an oasis town in north east Niger with a population of around 2,500 people. It lies protected from the desert dunes under the Kaouar Cliffs and is the largest town along the Kaouar escarpment...
Cercle as the last military-run section of modern Niger. This area in the far north east only came under French civilian administration in 1956.
In 1947, French Upper Volta
French Upper Volta
Upper Volta was a colony of French West Africaestablished on March 1, 1919, from territories that had been part of the colonies of Upper Senegal and Niger and the Côte d'Ivoire...
was reconstituted, and the Cercles of Dori
Dori, Burkina Faso
Dori is a town in northeastern Burkina Faso. It is located at around . It is the capital of Sahel Region and has a population of 17 675. The main ethnic group is the Fula .- Mines :...
and Fada N'Gourma
Fada N'gourma
Fada N'gourma, also written Fada-Ngourma, is a city in eastern Burkina Faso, lying east of Ouagadougou, in the Gourmantché area. It is the capital of the Gourma province. It was founded by Diaba Lompo as Bingo. It is known for its blanket and rug manufacturing. It is also famed for its honey...
ceded to Upper Volta Colony. While there were minor border changes after 1947, the modern borders of Niger were roughly established with this change.
Following the 1956 Loi Cadre
Loi Cadre
The loi-cadre was a French legal reform passed by the French National Assembly on 23 June 1956. It marked a turning point in relations between France and its overseas empire...
, rudiments of internal rule were created with the Territorial Assembly of Niger elected by popular vote, but holding only advisory and administrative powers. In 1958 the French Union
French Union
The French Union was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" and to abolish its "indigenous" status.-History:...
succeed the French Community
French Community
The French Community was an association of states known in French simply as La Communauté. In 1958 it replaced the French Union, which had itself succeeded the French colonial empire in 1946....
On 25 August 1958, the Lieutenant Governor became High Commissioner of Niger, but remained Head of State of a quasi-independent state which controlled some purely internal administration.
The Constitution of 25 February 1959
Constitution of Niger
The Republic of Niger has had seven constitutions, two substantial constitutional revisions, and two periods of rule by decree since its independence from French colonial rule in 1960...
was created by and then ratified vote of the Constituent Assembly of Niger, a body created for this purpose from the elected Territorial Assembly of Niger in December 1958. On 12 March 1959 the Constituent Assembly became the Legislative Assembly of Niger, with the head of government, Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence.- Youth :...
, retaining the title of President of the Council. Nominal executive powers were vested in the Assembly. with the constitution establishing elements, such as the Flag of Niger
Flag of Niger
The Flag of Niger has been the national symbol of the West African Republic of Niger since 1959, a year prior to its formal independence from France. It uses the national colors of orange, white and green, in equal horizontal bands, with an orange rondel in the center...
, the National anthem of Niger and the Coat of Arms of Niger
Coat of arms of Niger
The coat of arms of Niger shows a four-part flag draping in the national colors orange, white, and green. In the middle, the state seal is arranged. On a white or gold shield the four golden symbols are shown...
, along with language on naming of political bodies, rights and powers which have been retained in subsequent texts.
Following the Algerian War and the collapse of the French Fourth Republic
French Fourth Republic
The French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems...
, the colonies of the French Union became fully independent in 1960. Niger ratified its first fully independent constitution on 8 November 1960 and Jean Colombani stepped down as High Commissioner on 10 November 1960.