Pre-colonial Niger
Today’s Niger has known a succession of great African empires that marked its history before exploration and colonisation. In the west, the Songhay Empire, whose cradle is in present-day Mali, was the most important. Two important migratory movements increased the Songhay presence in western Niger and northern Benin: the first after the ousting of the Soni dynasty by the Askai in
1493, and the second following the latter’s defeat by the Moroccans in 1591. The north of Niger was marked by the formation of the great Tuareg confederations of the Kel Aïr, Kel Ferouan, Kel Ewi and Ouliminden. The Sultanate of Aïr was founded in 1405. In the centre, Hausa states such as Sokoto, Zaria, Gobir, Katsina and Kabi were born. In the far east, around Lake Chad, it was first Kanem and then, from the 17th century onwards, Bornou, led by Idris Alaoma (1580-1617), that became the dominant powers.
The arrival of the settler
The first Europeans to enter the region were the British explorers Mungo Park (on the Niger River, 1806), Hugh Clapperton and Dixon Denham, and the German explorer Heinrich Barth (who crossed the regions of the present-day Niger to Kano and Timbuktu, from 1850 to 1854).
The ultimate aim of these various explorations was not territorial conquest but rather the opening of the Niger market to Europe and, at the same time, the suppression of the
slave trade.
It was only in 1890 that the French, through Lake Chad, broke into Niger, confronting the resistance of the Tuareg. the resistance of the Tuaregs of the Aïr. In 1900, the French made Niger a military territory administered from the former sultanate of Zinder. It became a French colony colony in 1922 and was administered from Niamey to rebalance local economic and political and political powers, to reduce the weight of the Hausa community of Zinder and the influence as well as the influence of northern Nigeria, a rich and populated region.
In 1946, it became an overseas territory. It was only in 1958, on 18 December, that Niger became an autonomous republic within the Community, despite a campaign for a ‘no’ vote in the referendum by the “the referendum by the leader Sawaba Djibo Bakary, opposed to the head of the government of Hamani government of Hamani Diori.
Independence
On 3 August 1960, Niger gained independence but maintained good relations with France, which was one of its main trading partners. France, which was one of its main trading partners. Hamani Diori became President on 11 November 1960. The country has essentially focused on liberalism to The country’s economy at the time of independence was mainly focused on agriculture and livestock. Opposition to Djibo Bakary became increasingly stronger and stronger. The latter, who was forced into exile on the eve of independence and who enjoyed the support of the progressive camp (Kwame) support of the progressive camp (Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Sékou Touré), tried unsuccessfully to take power by force. to take power by force.
In April 1965, President Hamani Diori escaped an assassination attempt; he was re-elected the same year, supported by the Progressive Party. the same year, supported by the Niger Progressive Party (PPN) which he founded from the Niger Nigerien section of the Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (RDA).
In addition to Hamani Diori, Niger has had the following presidents: Ali Saibou (1989-1993), Mahamane Ousmane (1993-1996), Mamadou Tandja (1999-2010) and Mahamadou Issoufou (current president
since 2011).
GEOPOLITICS AND INTERDEPENDENCE
A landlocked country 40 times the size of Belgium, Niger maintains good relations with its neighbours, on whom it depends for its economic exchanges and security. Many Nigerien nationals work in coastal West Africa as well as in Libya and Algeria.
A sub-Saharan African country, Niger has large reserves of uranium in the Aïr massif, phosphates, gold in the Nigerien Liptako, coal in Anou-Araren and tin in El Micki tin at El Micki.
While most of the world’s uranium mines are running out, the world’s largest reserves are in Niger. According to the Natural Resources Governance Index Niger became the fourth largest producer of Uranium in the world in 2016 and world and undoubtedly the largest producer in Africa. It supplies alone 44% of Africa’s uranium but remains one of the poorest countries in the world due to the various conflicts on almost all its borders. Boko Haram, whose ideology is beginning to spread in Niger and for some years now, against the backdrop of a persistent economic economic crisis, the country has been troubled by a Tuareg rebellion that highlights the fragility of national the fragility of the national unity of the state.
This strong geological presence of Niger in the sub-Saharan part of the continent justifies the strategic relations that France has with Niger. Since independence relations with France have remained almost the same (colonial relationship). It should therefore not be surprising that Niger’s uranium has remained the property of France for more than 50 years now, due to the exploitation of the resource by a French company, whose interests or interests in the country’s uranium industry are closely linked to those of France. French company, whose interests or economic benefits are essentially oriented towards France to the to the detriment of the Nigerien people, who continue to show a face of impoverishment despite its great wealth and legitimacy over this resource. Such a situation is rooted in the defence agreements signed on 24 April 1961 with France, and in the national Niger’s national mining laws which had to be adapted to satisfy and accommodate the ambitions of foreign (Canadian, (Canadian, Chinese) companies, particularly French ones.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Despite the difficult security situation caused by growing insecurity on the border with Mali, Libya and Nigeria as well as low international uranium prices in 2017,growth in the Nigerien economy was maintained at 4.9% in 2016 and 2017 before reaching 5.2% in 2018. This dynamic was supported by the performance of the agricultural sector, which is the country’s main source of revenue and employs 80% of the working population. Its added value should increase to 2,000.4 billion in 2020 in addition to the strengthening of the hydrocarbon and service sectors. With an estimated growth rate of 5.2% in 2018, Niger’s economy has benefited from a revival of extractive activities as well as the implementation of the second phase of the Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES
2017-2021).
Niger continues to post robust economic growth of 6.3 percent in 2019, supported by agriculture. Economic activity has also been supported by the infrastructure infrastructure built to host the African Union summit in July 2019 and major donor-supported supported by donors. This is despite various obstacles such as unfavorable commodity prices unfavorable commodity prices, the slowdown in trade caused by the closure of Nigeria’s border closure since mid-August 2019 and increasing security concerns. The government has been able to prevent the spread of conflict on its border territories, thus preserving key economic activities. important to note that the National Plan fully integrates the Sustainable Development Goals It is also important to note that the National Plan fully integrates the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and efforts are being made to achieve them. of the said SDGs.
SDG 12: Establish sustainable consumption and production patterns
In the face of the disastrous consequences that economic progress and the use of natural resources have had and continue to have on our planet, the aim of SDG 12 is to reconcile economic growth and sustainable development. In more detail, by 2030, it aims to:
- To achieve sustainable management and rational use of natural resources
natural resources - Reduce by half the amount of food waste per capita at the distribution and consumption levels distribution and consumption, and food losses throughout the production and supply chains, including post-harvest supply chains, including post-harvest losses
- To achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle by 2020, in accordance with internationally agreed guidelines, and to significantly reduce their release to air, water and land, in order to water and soil, in order to minimize their negative effects on human health and the environment.
- Significantly reduce waste production through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
- Encourage companies, especially large and transnational ones, to adopt sustainable practices and
practices and to include sustainability information in their reporting. - Promote sustainable procurement practices in accordance with national policies and in accordance with national policies and priorities
- To ensure that people everywhere have the information and knowledge necessary for sustainable information and a lifestyle in in harmony with nature
According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) estimates Agriculture), each year 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted. This represents the same amount of food produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. So the planet is struggling to provide enough resources for 7 billion people (9 billion in 2050), the FAO estimates that one third of the world’s food production is lost or wasted. lost or wasted. Food waste represents a huge loss of natural resources and has a negative impact on the resources and has a negative impact on the environment.
Niger, like several other countries in the sub-region and in Africa, does not respond effectively to the food demand of the population and therefore food wastage is not very evident. The issue is mainly focused on the management of waste that piles up and is and are very noticeable.
In addition, Bioplast, a company with an environmental vocation, also works on waste management waste management through the marketing of biodegradable packaging, the promotion of sustainable bags, the
bags, garbage collection as well as waste sorting and recovery.
Amina Issa Ado, a Nigerian startup, also specializes in organic catering, through the manufacture of shoes and garbage bags. through the manufacture of shoes and garbage cans made from old tires recovered from the street, thus contributing to a healthy and sustainable environment.