Colony of Niger

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Colony of Niger
Colonie du Niger (French)
1922–1960
Flag of Niger
Overseas territory
(1946–1958)
Autonomous republic
(1958–1960)
Lieutenant Governor 
• 1922–1929
Jules Brévié
• 1958–1959
Louis Félix Rollet
High Commissioner 
• 1959–1960
Jean Colombani
Prime Minister
 
• 1957–1958
Djibo Bakary
• 1958–1960
Hamani Diori
History 
• Established
13 October 1922
• Status changed to
overseas territory
13 October 1946
19 December 1958
• Independence
3 August 1960
Area
1940[1]1,292,405 km2 (499,000 sq mi)
1948[2]1,218,994 km2 (470,656 sq mi)
Population
• 1936[2]
1,747,000
• 1940[1]
1,809,576
• 1948[2]
2,029,000
CurrencyFrench West African franc
(1922–1945)
CFA franc
(1945–1960)
ISO 3166 codeNE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Upper Senegal and Niger
First Republic of Niger (1960–1974)
Today part ofNiger

The Colony of Niger (French: Colonie du 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 1960.

Military territory

While French took 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

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.

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

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.

World War II

Niger Colony officials, unlike neighboring

Nigeria
) and eastern border until 1944.

Decolonization

On 31 December 1946 the Military Territories of

N'Guigmi 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,

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 Community succeed the French Union. 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

, 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.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Americana Annual 1946
  2. ^ a b Britannica Book Of The Year 1953
  3. ^ Colin Newbury. The formation of the government general of French West Africa. Journal of African history, vol.1, no.1 (1960), pp.111–128.
  4. ^ See the photo of the 1927 map at Don d’ouvrages aux Archives nationales Archived February 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from the French Embassy at Niamey, showing the outline of Niger colonie and military territories.

References

  • Niger: Rulers.org. Accessed 2009-04-15.
  • Decalo, Samuel (1997). Historical Dictionary of the Niger (3rd ed.). Boston & Folkestone: Scarecrow Press. .: pp.20, 88–89, 152–54