Colony of Niger
Colony of Niger Colonie du Niger(French) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922–1960 | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Anthem:La Marseillaise | |||||||||
 French West Africain 1936. Note the Colonie du Niger, lacking the earlier Tibesti area of Chad, includes the later easternUpper Volta | |||||||||
| Status | Constituent ofFrench West Africa | ||||||||
| Capital | Zinder (1922–1926) Niamey (1926–1960) | ||||||||
| Common languages | French | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam,Christianity | ||||||||
| Government | Colony (1922–1946) 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 tooverseas territory | 13 October 1946 | ||||||||
| 19 December 1958 | |||||||||
• Independence | 3 August 1960 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 1940[2] | 1,292,405 km2(499,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
| 1948[1] | 1,218,994 km2(470,656 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1936[1] | 1,747,000 | ||||||||
• 1940[2] | 1,809,576 | ||||||||
• 1948[1] | 2,029,000 | ||||||||
| Currency | French West African franc (1922–1945) CFA franc (1945–1960) | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | NE | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Niger | ||||||||
TheColony of Niger(French:Colonie du Niger) was aFrench colonial possessioncovering much of the territory of the modern West African state ofNiger,as well as portions ofMali,Burkina FasoandChad.It existed in various forms from 1900 to 1960 but was titled theColonie du Nigeronly from 1922 to 1960.
Military territory
[edit]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 ofZinderor north ofTanout.Its Commandant was based at the village ofSorbo-HaoussanearNiamey,where the headquarters was moved in 1903. Administratively, it was part of theSenegambia and NigerColony from 1902 to 1904 andUpper Senegal and Nigercolony from 1904 to 1911. While commanded by officers of the FrenchTroupes de marine,its budget and administration was dependent on the Lieutenant Governor atKayes(latterBamako), and military decision making—as well as contact with authorities in theMetropoleor other colonies was through the Governor General in Dakar.[3]The area also appears on French maps as the "Third Military Territory".On 22 June 1910 the territory was renamedNiger Military Territory,and included parts of modern northeast Mali (GaoCercle) and Northern Chad (TibestiCercle). On 21 June 1911 the Cercle ofGaoceded toFrench Sudan,and throughout the late nineteen-teens, efforts were made to establish permanent French posts in the north and east, inBilma,N'guigmiand elsewhere. In 1911, the headquarters of the territory was moved toZinder,reflecting both the relative peacefulness of the west of the territory, and the fear of incursion from theBritishto the South and theItaliansfromLibya.Despite this, French control of the northern and eastern areas remained minimal. Along withMauritania,Niger remained the only part ofFrench West Africato remain under military rule.
Civilian colonial rule
[edit]On 13 October 1922 the civilianColony of Nigertook control of most of southern and western areas, with a lieutenant governor reporting to theGovernor GeneralofFrench West Africa.The 1919 creation ofFrench Upper Voltaas a civil colony removed the areas of modern Niger west of theNiger River.[4]In 1926, the capital was moved again toNiameyfromZinder.In 1931,TibestiCercle ceded toChad ColonyinFrench Equatorial Africa,and in 1932, the colony ofFrench Upper Voltawas divided amongst its neighbors, with the Cercles ofDoriandFada N'gourmaceded to Niger Colony.
World War II
[edit]Niger Colony officials, unlike neighboringChad,remained loyal to the FrenchVichy governmentafter 1940, and thus closed its southern border (toNigeria) and eastern border until 1944.
Decolonization
[edit]On 31 December 1946 the Military Territories ofN'GuigmiandAgadezwere ceded to Niger Colony, leaving onlyBilmaCercle 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,French Upper Voltawas reconstituted, and the Cercles ofDoriandFada N'Gourmaceded 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 1956Loi Cadre,rudiments of internal rule were created with theTerritorial Assembly of Nigerelected by popular vote, but holding only advisory and administrative powers. In 1958 theFrench Communitysucceed theFrench Union.On 25 August 1958 the Lieutenant Governor becameHigh Commissioner of Niger,but remained Head of State of a quasi-independent state which controlled some purely internal administration.
TheConstitution of 25 February 1959was ratified by theConstituent Assembly of Niger,a body created for this purpose from theTerritorial Assembly of Nigerelected in December 1958.On 12 March 1959 the Constituent Assembly became theLegislative Assembly of Niger,with the head of government,Hamani Diori,retaining the title ofPresident of the Council.Nominal executive powers were vested in the Assembly, with the constitution establishing elements, such as theflag of Niger,thenational anthem of Nigerand thecoat of arms of Niger,along with language on naming of political bodies, rights and powers which have been retained in subsequent texts.
Following theAlgerian Warand the collapse of theFrench Fourth Republic,the colonies of the French Union became fully independent in 1960. Niger ratified its first fully independent constitution on 8 November 1960, andJean Colombanistepped down as high commissioner on 10 November 1960.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^abBritannica Book Of The Year 1953
- ^The Americana Annual 1946
- ^Colin Newbury. The formation of the government general of French West Africa. Journal of African history, vol.1, no.1 (1960), pp.111–128.
- ^See the photo of the 1927 map atDon d’ouvrages aux Archives nationalesArchivedFebruary 17, 2008, at theWayback Machinefrom the French Embassy at Niamey, showing the outline of Niger colonie and military territories.
References
[edit]- Niger: Rulers.org.Accessed 2009-04-15.
- Decalo, Samuel (1997).Historical Dictionary of the Niger (3rd ed.).Boston & Folkestone: Scarecrow Press.ISBN0-8108-3136-8.: pp.20, 88–89, 152–54
- French West Africa
- Former colonies in Africa
- Former French colonies
- French colonisation in Africa
- French Union
- 1922 establishments in Africa
- 1960 disestablishments in Africa
- 1922 establishments in the French colonial empire
- 1960 disestablishments in the French colonial empire
- 20th century in Niger
- France–Niger relations
- States and territories established in 1922
- States and territories disestablished in 1960