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Niger History can be traced back to the 13th and 14th Century when the Hausa, Zerma, Gobirand and Fulani established their base in the region which is now known as Niger. Niger History indicates at the historical importance of the region as an economic crossroad and therefore many important dynasties including the Songhai Empire, Mali Empire, Gao, and Kanem-Bornu fought to acquire control over it.
With the dawn of the 19th Century Niger History witnessed the advent of Europeans into the country. By the 1920's Niger had become a French Colony. The history of colonized Niger is more or less similar to the other West African colonies of the French. The French, with time, granted French Citizenship to the people of Niger and later also allowed their limited participation in the political affairs. With the coming of the Fifth French Republic in the year 1958, Niger was declared to be an Independent State withing the fold of the French Community and in the year 1960 Niger was granted complete independence.
The initial 14 years of Independent Niger saw a single Party rule under President Hamani Diori. Natural calamity and in depth corruption led to a military Coup in the Niger History which resulted in the replacement of Diori by Col. Seyni Kountché. After the death of Kountche, Col. Ali Saibou took up charge . He soon had to face the demand for a multi party democratic system. As Saibou accepted this demand a number of Political parties sprang up and a free and fair election was demanded.
A transition government was erected which was followed by the establishment of The Third Republic in the year 1993. A coalition Government was formed after the election of 1993 but it soon fell apart and confusion followed. Hama Amadou of the MNSD was appointed as a Prime Minister but the confusion between the President and the Prime minister continued. This confusion paved the way for a military dictatorship under Col. Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara but within months it was replaced by the Fourth Republic. Baré Maïnassara stood for the Presidential election against four others and won. Soon Bare adopted dictatorial methods and this led to his assassination in the year 1999 and a Fifth Republic was established.
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