Government type: republic
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular—departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
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 Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January
1996); note—the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
January 1996); note—Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was
appointed prime minister by the president but does not exercise any
executive authority and is only the implementor of the president's
programs; the president is both chief of state and head of government
note: President Ibrahim BARE was assasinated on the 9 April 1999
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
last held 7-8 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note—Ibrahim BARE
Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President
Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently
defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996
election results: percent of vote—Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%,
Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU
7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%
Legislative branch: two-chamber National Assembly; one chamber with 83 seats (members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); selection process for second chamber not established elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UNIRD 59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3, MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2