WORLD FUTURE - NIGER FUTURE

Situated in West Africa, Niger is 1,267,000 km². Its neighboring countries are Algeria and Libya in the North, Chad in the East, Burkina Faso and Mali in the West and Nigeria and Benin in the South. Its population of about 14 millions inhabitants in 2008 and is composed of many ethnic communities living in perfect harmony each of them according to their cultural heritage. They are: Hausa, Zarma, Songhay, Fulani, Tuareg, Kanuri, Gurmancé, Tubu and Arabs.
Islam is the religion practiced by about 90% of the population; yet, Niger is a laïc and a rule of the law country.
Niger has excellent friendly and cooperation relationships with worldwide countries.
The River Niger is the only permanent water course that crosses the countries along 550 km (from Labbezanga at Mali border to Gaya located on Benin Border).
As a turning point between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Niger has a dry tropical climate that is characterized by a very variable rainfall and three district seasons.
· A humid season from June to October;
· A dry and cold season from November to February;
· A dry and hot season from March to May.
Temperatures lie between 42°C with peaks of 45°C and higher from April to May. However, from December to January, nights may be cooler (10°C to 12°C in Niamey, and 5°C to 6°C in Bilma located in the North of the country). The average annual temperature in Niamey is 29°C.

Niger has many types of landscapes that allow and encourage livestock and agricultural development activities. The country has also many potentialities in the mining, craftsmanship and tourist sectors. Agriculture is the main activity of Niger populations. The main crops produced are staple foods (millet, sorghum, maize, cassava, rice). Cash crops are: peanuts, onions, beans, cotton, Arabic gum etc…

Livestock is one of the main wealth of the country. The livestock is composed of many animal species: bovines (3,686,828); ovine (7,457,542); caprines (9,448,013); camels (1,177,173); asins (354,686); equines (650,745); according to the figures of the last animal census.

Fisheries are also active mainly on the River Niger, the Lake Chad and Madarounfa Lake.
Forest is an invaluable wealth for the population. It provides them with firewood, craftsmanship wood and traditional medicine plants. The production of some crops like dates, Arabic gum is encouraged through the biocarbon initiative.

The underground contains many minerals and oil products (uranium, gold, coal, oil, tin, phosphate, marble, manganese, etc…).
The mining industry is, for the time being, dominated by the exploitation of the uranium by two companies, SOMAÏR and COMINAK based at Arlit in the North of the country. Niger is among the first world large producers of this mine.
The Anou-Ararem coal is locally used in a coal-fired station to generate electricity and carbonized coal used as a substitution to firewood.
Some substances are traditionally exploited: gold, tin, gypsum, precious and semi precious metals.

As a landlocked country, Niger has yet many land communication ways in good state. The lack of railways makes the transport fees very high. Commerce and tourism are very important for the economy of the country.