Niger (country)
Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa, named after the Niger River, with Niamey as its capital.
Sahel: The semiarid transition zone between the Sahara Desert and the wetter savannas of Africa. Niger lies largely within this region, where rainfall is scarce and variable.
Uranium mining in Niger: The extraction of uranium ore in Niger, chiefly around the town of Arlit. Uranium exports have long connected Niger’s economy to foreign energy markets.
French West Africa: A federation of French colonial territories in West Africa that existed from 1895 to 1958. Niger was governed as part of this federation before becoming an independent republic.
Nigeria: A populous West African country south of Niger, with Abuja as its capital. The two countries share a long border but differ sharply in population size and economic scale.
Niger River: A major West African river that flows through or borders Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria. The river gives Niger its name, though most of the country lies outside its basin.
Nigerien coup d'état: A seizure of political power by force in Niger, most often by military officers. Repeated coups have interrupted civilian government and reshaped Niger’s foreign relations.
French colonial empire: The worldwide system of territories governed by France, especially from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries. French rule established institutions and borders that persisted after Niger’s independence.
Mali: A landlocked West African country west of Niger, with Bamako as its capital. Niger and Mali share Sahelian conditions and face related security challenges.
Niamey: The capital and largest city of Niger, situated on the Niger River. Niger’s government and largest urban population are concentrated in its capital.
Islamist insurgency in the Sahel: Armed campaigns by jihadist groups across parts of the Sahel, including Niger. Insurgent violence has displaced communities and challenged state authority in Niger’s border regions.