Niger

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[edit] Location

  • Niger is in West Africa.
  • Niger's subtropical climate is mainly very hot and dry, with much desert area. In the extreme south there is a tropical climate on the edges of the Niger River basin. The terrain is predominantly desert plains and sand dunes with flat to rolling savannah in the south and hills in the north.
  • The 15% of Niger's land that is arable is found mainly along its southern and western borders with Nigeria, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Rainfall varies and when insufficient, Niger has difficulty feeding its population and must rely on grain purchases and food aid to meet food requirements.
  • Niger is the poorest country in the world, ranking last on the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index. It is a landlocked, sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 2.9% population growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercut the economy.
  • Niger's Regions and Administrative units
  • Niger is divided into 7 Regions:
Agadez,
Diffa,
Dosso,
Maradi,
Tahoua,
Tillabéri, and
Zinder and
one capital district (Niamey).
These Regions are subdivided into 36 departments. The 36 Departments are currently broken down into Communes of varying types. As of 2006 there were 265 communes, including communes urbaines (Urban Communes: as subdivisions of major cities), communes rurales (Rural Communes, in sparsely populated areas and postes administratifs (Administrative Posts) for largely uninhabited desert areas or military zones. Rural communes may contain official villages and settlements, while Urban Communes are divided into quarters.

[edit] Life

  • Niger has a high number of children who suffer from malnutrition. Many little children are dying from widespread disease. Niger is one of the poorest nations in the world.
  • Many Christians in Niger are isolated and as many cannot read, it is a real difficulty for them to get to grips with the Bible. Pray for loving and Godly leaders who can take on the challenge.

[edit] Population

  • Population:
15,306,252 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
  • Age structure:
0-14 years: 49.6% (male 3,840,379/female 3,758,674)
15-64 years: 48% (male 3,658,361/female 3,690,373)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 159,984/female 198,481) (2009 est.)
  • Median age:
total: 15.2 years
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.4 years (2009 est.)
Niger has the youngest population of any country in the world.
  • Population growth rate:
3.677% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
  • Birth rate:
51.6 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
  • Death rate:
14.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
  • Net migration rate:
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

[edit] Peoples

The majority ethnic group are the Hausa with other prominent groups being:
Djerma,
Fulani/Peuhl,
Tuareg:Language:Tamajaq ,
Beri Beriand related ethnies (such as Manga): Language:Kanouri/Kanuri,
Tubu/Toubou/Daza/Teda
among others including the Gourmantche, Songhai, nomadic Arab, Shuwa Arab, Chadic Arab


The Songhai people: A church has adopted a 48 kilometer stretch of road where nearly 40,000 ± unreached Songhai live. The road is called the Road to Mehanna. God allowed to baptize the first believers on the road March 07. They are going strong, but with much suffering and persecution.
27 languages and dialects

[edit] Urbanization

  • Urban population: 16% of total population (2008)
  • Rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
  • Source: CIA: The World Factbook
  • Niger remains largely a rural and traditional country .
  • The Cities of Niger (in approximate order of population size)
Niamey, capital,
Zinder(adminstrative capital of Zinder Region),
Maradi (administrative capital of Maradi Region),
Tahoua (administrative capital of Tahoua Region),
Agadez (administrative capital of Agadez Region),
Dosso (adminstrative capital of Dosso Region),
Diffa (administrative capital of Diffa Region) and
Tillabery (administrative capital of Tillabery Region.
Other important cities include Aguié (Maradi Region) Bilma (Agadez Region), Birnin Konni(Tahoua Region), Dakoro (Maradi Region), Dogon Dutsi (Dosso Region), Gouré (Zinder Region), Madawa (Tahoua Region), Maine Soura (Diffa Region) Mirria (Zinder Region), Nguigmi (Diffa Region), and Tessawa (Maradi Region)

[edit] History

  • Prior to the colonial era, which began in the 1890s when French military explorers mapped out a Niger territory, most of today's Niger was under the authority of traditional rulers and Empires: the Borno (or Bornu) Empire in the east, the Hausa-Fulani states in the south central, the Songhai Empire in the west and a Tuareg confederation in much of the desert north. The French organized a Niger Colony from the military territory it administered in 1920 and situated its first capital in Zinder, before moving it to Niamey in 1926. Niger achieved independence from France in 1958 and became a Republic in 1960. For three decades the country was under one-party or military rule until public pressure led to multi-party elections in 1991. Niger subsequently experienced three coups, the first of which took place in 1996 and restored military rule. The second coup restored multi-party democracy, under the 5th Republic, which began in 1999. In 2009, Tandja, dissolved the Assemblée Nationale, annulled the existing constitution and then promulgated another through a referendum, which was followed with new Assemblée elections, thus launching the 6th Republic. It ended with another military coup on February 18, 2010, whose leaders promised to restore Niger to an elected democracy.

[edit] Economy

  • Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world.
  • Pray for new economic revitalization in Niger. The drought-prone country sometimes struggles to feed its people. Its main export, uranium, is prone to price fluctuations, and agriculture is threatened by the encroaching desert. Pray for favor as Niger bargains on oil exploration and gold mining to boost its wealth.

[edit] Government

[edit] Coup on February 18, 2010

  • Military forces in Niger staged a coup on February 18, 2010, successfully removing President Mamadou Tandja from power. In what has been described as a spectacular overthrow, armed soldiers fought their way into President Mamadou Tandja s palace on Thursday, February 18, 2010, arrested him and dissolved every democratic institution in the nation of Niger.
  • Although the coup was condemned by other countries and Niger was immediately suspended from the African Union, opposition leaders expressed thanks for Tandja s removal and called on the military junta to hold free elections. President Tandja's mistake, one journalist noted, was to push through an amendment to the constitution, making him president for life. Tandja first came to power in 1999. In 2009, he changed the constitution to extend his term and expand his authority. More than 10,000 people took to the streets after the coup to express their support for the takeover. Many consider this a first and necessary step in returning the nation to true democracy. Nigeriens are also hopeful the new leaders will make good on their promise to provide relief from poverty, deception, and corruption.
  • PRAY FOR:
the Lord to lead Niger through this difficult and volatile period.
Pray for the interim leaders to hold fair elections. (The Bible, Psalm 147:14)
the Lord to orchestrate elections and raise up officials who will serve the people, keeping their promise to eliminate poverty, deception, and corruption. (The Bible, Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 29:26)
peace throughout Niger as the government is in transition. Pray for all political parties, segments of society, and people groups to work together for the good of Niger rather than fight against each other for control. (The Bible, Psalm 133:1)
Believers to have greater freedom of worship. Pray for the Lord to give them boldness in witnessing to their Muslim neighbors. Pray for the veil the enemy has placed over the eyes of the followers of Islam to be removed and for them to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ. (The Bible, Ephesians 6:19,20; II Corinthians 4:3,4)
this new season in Niger to be used by the Lord to bring His Kingdom in great power. Pray for minds and hearts to be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ. Pray for multitudes to put their faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. (The Bible, Matthew 6:10; I Timothy 2:4)

[edit] Religion

  • From: 2009 Niger Liberté de Religion Rapport
  • 98% of the population practices a form of Islam whereas Christianity, indigenous beliefs and other faiths comprise less than 2% of the total. In reality, perhaps a third of those who identify with Islam are not devout or practice a syncretic form of their faith with traditional religion, therefore, the number of those engaged in animism, especially in the rural areas, is likely higher.

[edit] Islam

  • 95% of Muslims in Niger follow various Sunni practices, while 5% are considered Shi'a.
  • Muslim sects found in Niger include:
  • Quadriya: the oldest, with historic ties to Middle East;
  • Tidjaniyaan orthodox African-origin sect that emphasizes reciting holy phrases;
  • Sanusiya: of 19th Century Libyan origin, this Sufi sect has ties to caravan towns and desert people and urges a pure Islam;
  • Kwalatiya: came from Egypt in the 16th Century and is mainly practiced by the Tuareg;
  • Jama'at Izalat Al-Bid'a wa Iqamat Al-Sunna: This movement has its origins in Jos, Nigeria and is an anti-Sufi-movement that was established to fight against the so called bid’a, innovation, practiced by the Sufi brotherhoods, especially the Qadiriyya and the Tijaniyya. Practices like naming ceremonies, celebrating the Maulid (the birthday of the Prophet), visiting tombs of Saints, etc. are considered to be as non-Islamic by the Izala. It has made a major presence in the Maradi Region, particularly among the young as it promotes a total Muslim world view of life, including economic assistance an the education of women. See Ben Amara: p. 32.
  • Hamallayya a Sufi protest movement originating in Mali and popular among former Fulani slave castes;

The Ahmadiyya sect has missionaries from Pakistan in the country and have established mosques in Niger.

Minor sects also include: Chadelia, Nyassism and Taibia.

Sources: De Calo, Samuel (1997). Historical Dictionary of Niger: Third Edition. London: The Scarecrow Press.

Ben Amara, Rashid. (2007) The Development of the Izala Movement in Nigeria: Its Split, Relationship to Sufis and Perception of Sharia Implementation. in Knowledge for Tomorrow – Cooperative Research Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa First Grantees Meeting 25 - 28 November 2007 Bamako, Mali. pp 32-35.

[edit] Baha'i

  • The town of Niamey and the environs west toward Burkina Faso are reported to have several thousand practitioners of the Baha'i faith.

[edit] Christianity

[edit] Niger's Christian History

History of Christianity in Niger

  • Christianity first touched Niger in the seventh century when Berber (Lemta) Christians migrated south after being driven from North Africa by emerging Islam. Isolated from other Christians, the faith gradually weakened and Christianity disappeared from Niger until the twentieth century.

Mission History

  • Protestant missionaries were the first to arrive in Niger. In 1924, SIM began work at Zinder from its base in Nigeria and now serves in 15 Nigerien locations. Out of this work emerged L'Eglise Evangélique de la République du Niger (EERN), which was founded in 1961 shortly after Niger's independence.
  • In 1929 African Christian Missions, Inc. (now known as Evangelical Baptist Mission) opened work. The Union des Eglises Evangéliques Baptists (UEEB), started by this mission, today comprises four churches, a missionary branch supporting three missionaries, and approximately 700 members.
  • Roman Catholicism spread from Benin to Niger in 1931. The Roman Catholic Church currently has over 15,000 affiliates, although approximately 95% of these are expatriates or their descendants.
  • In the past decades, other Protestant missions have arrived as Niger liberalized their policies concerning non-government organizations in the late 1980s. These include Baptist International Mission, Assemblies of God, Southern Baptist, Fellowship of Independent Missions (now called Fellowship International Mission),Free Methodist Church (Canada), Reformed Church in America, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Seventh Day Adventists, YWAM (now called JEMED—Jeunesse en Mission et Dévéloppement), Horizons (includes Frontiers), Calvary Ministries, Portes Ouvertes, Sahara Desert Mission, SIL, Vie Abondant, Korean Presbyterians and others.

African missionaries from Burkina Faso, Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali and especially Nigeria (among others) are planting churches in Niger. Some of these are sent through their denominations' mission agencies or with other African-based missions, but others are carried by out individual churches and church planters. Additionally, there are "mission" churches to serve their ethnic immigrant congregations in Niger from many of these same African countries.

[edit] Churches

[edit] Challenges for Christians:

  • Christian radio stations in Niger’s capital, Niamey, have helped prepare the hearts of many nomadic Tamajaq and Fulani. Some Fulani, feeling the effects of famine, are opening up to the message of Jesus due to the response of Christians who brought relief to them. Encouraging progress is also being made among the Tamajaq. There are too few missionaries to cover all the opportunities. Nevertheless, national believers have a growing vision for church planting and evangelism. Challenges include a shortage of pastors, educated Christian women, and mature, well-trained leadership.

[edit] Church and State Relations

  • As an officially secular (no state religion) country, Niger permits freedom of religion for its citizens. Indeed, the U.S. Government recognizes this to be indeed be the case in its 2009 Annual Report on the Freedom to Worship (See:2009 Niger Liberté de Religion).
  • Since 2007 there has been a Ministry of Religious Affairs in Niger to promote harmony and communications between the faiths practiced in Niger and the government. Their work has helped promote dialogue between the Muslim and Christian communities, but spends much more energy working between the various Muslims sects.
  • The government does place some modest restrictions on religion. All religious organizations and missionary personnel must register with the Minister of Interior, though this is normally just a formality. Religious-based political parties are not allowed, nor is religious instruction in the public schools. Government authorities need to approve the construction of a church or a mosque. Religious activities that threaten the public peace are not permitted and government officials will intervene if Christians (or others) publicly defame or cast aspersions on Islam or the Prophet Mohammed, such as in a radio broadcast or open-air preaching. Large religious events, such as a rally, require coordination with local authorities and it is wise to keep them informed of any special events that will bring in big crowds or a large number of foreign visitors for a religious activity.
  • Religious broadcasters and other media presenters have a great deal of liberty in Niger as both state and private television, radio and newspapers accept paid religious advertising. The media outlets are limited, however, in the total amount of such paid advertising, believed to be around 25% of their total air time. Thus, no full-time explicitly religious media outlet is permitted.

[edit] Mission

  • This Muslim land is open for the gospel, and the loving ministry of Christian aid missionaries has won credibility for the gospel. Yet response has been small and church growth slow. It is important that the Christians would show practical care to those in need.
  • Muslims are more receptive than ever before, yet response has been small and church growth slow. Islam is strong and well-organized. There is an Islamic university 54km from Niamey. Pray that the land may remain open, and that every social, religious and spiritual barrier to the knowledge of the Lord may be removed. The spiritual effects of folk Islam and demonic oppression are a major hindrance to people coming to Christ.

[edit] Councils and Networks

  • The Alliance of Missions and Evangelical Churches in Niger (AMEEN in French)is a forum where indigenous churches and mission organizations work together for the advancement of the church and Gospel in Niger. The headquarters is in Niamey, near the Village Francophonie.

[edit] Broadcasting

  • Since 2006, the Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger's Studio Issoufou Garba has broadcast 5 15-minute Christian programs on over 20 private radio stations in French and Hausa in Niger. They pioneered the ministry of placing these programs on Niger's community (locally-run non-profit)community stations.
  • Pray that Niger’s private radio stations will plant many seeds in the hearts of these precious people and that Christians may use this medium for the glory of God. Pray that all 27 languages and dialects of Niger will soon have a radio broadcast, Gospel recordings, and a complete Bible.

[edit] Future Trends

[edit] For Further Information

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