National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by
national referendum on 12 May 1996
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Colonel Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
January 1996 when he ousted President Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup);
Mahamane OUSMANE had been elected for a five-year term by universal
suffrage; election last held 17 March 1993 (next to be held 7 July
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Boukary ADJI (since NA January
1996) appointed by President BARE
cabinet: National Salvation Council was appointed by President BARE
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: elected by proportional representation for a
five-year term; election last held 12 January 1995 (next to be held
NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(83 total) MNSD-NASSARA 29, CDS 24, PNDS 12, ANDP-Z 9, UDFP 3, UDPS
2, PADN 2, PPN-RDA 1, UPDP 1; note - this National Assembly
dissolved by President BARE after the coup on 28 January 1996
Judicial branch: State Court (Cour d'Etat); Court of Appeal (Cour
d'Apel)
Political parties and leaders: National Movement of the
Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Mamadou TANDJA, chairman;
Democratic and Social Convention (CDS), Jacoub SANOUSSI; Nigerien
Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), Mahamadou ISSOUFOU;
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zamanlahia (ANDP-Z),
Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy
and Progress-Sawaba (UDFP), Djibo BAKARY, chairman; Union for
Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Akoli DAOUEL; Niger Social
Democrat Party (PADN), Malam Adji WAZIRI; Niger Progressive
Party-African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Dori ABDOULAI, chairman;
Union of Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Professor
Andre SALIFOU, chairman
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM,
OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227