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Niger

A brief history of Niger

The recent ousting of Niger's president Mamadou Tandja is the latest in a series of seizures of power since the country became independent fifty years ago. A chronology of coups, elections and delicate peace agreements with the country's Tuareg rebel groups.

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  • 1890s – France colonises Niger. 
  • 18 December 1958 – Niger becomes an autonomous republic.
  • 3 August 1960 – Niger gains independence from France. Diori Hamani becomes first president.
  • 30 September 1965 - Hamani is re-elected.
  • 1 October 1970 – Hamani is re-elected.
  • 15 April 1974 – Hamani is overthrown in a coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountché.
  • 15 March 1976 – Attempted coup led by Commander Bayère Moussa and Captain Sidi Mohammed.
  • 24 January 1983 – Oumarou Mamane is appointed as the first Prime Minister of Niger.
  • May 1983 – Student strikes.
  • 17 April 1984 – Release of former President Diori Hamani.
  • 10 November 1987 – Death of Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountché. Ali Saïbou is named as president of the military supreme council and head of state.
  • 24 September 1989 – New constitution adopted by referendum.
  • 10 December 1989 - Ali Saïbou elected as president.
  • 15 November 1990 – Introduction of multi-party system.
  • January 1992 – Tuareg rebellion.
  • 28 February 1992 – Military mutiny.
  • 26 December 1992 – Adoption of new constitution by referendum.
  • 27 March 1993 – Mahamane Ousmane elected as president.
  • 9 October 1994 – Peace agreement between government and Tuareg rebels.
  • 27 January 1996 – Military coup. General Barré Maïnassara takes power.
  • 7 July 1996 – Maïnassara is elected president in first round of election.
  • 9 April 1999 – Maïnassara is killed.
  • 11 April 1999 – Commander Daouda Mallam Wanké is named head of state.
  • 24 November 1999 – Mamadou Tandja is elected president of new government.
  • 4 December 2004 – Tandja re-elected in second round run-off vote.
  • 8 February 2007 – Insurgency in the north of Niger led by Tuareg militants. Arms laid down in late 2009.
  • 4 August 2009 – A new constitution is confirmed by referendum enabling Tandja to stay in power.
  • 20 October 2009 – Legislative elections are boycotted by opposition parties.
  • 18 February 2010 – Tandja is removed in a coup. Major Salou Djibo named as head of junta.

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