More information about Niger is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed below:
- 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Niger
Niger is a multiparty republic. In February 2021 Mohamed Bazoum won the presidential election with an estimated 56 percent of the vote in the second round of voting. He assumed office the following April in the first peaceful transfer of power in the country’s history, although the office stayed within the ruling party. International and domestic observers considered both rounds of the presidential election to be peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and inclusive.
- 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Niger
The constitution prohibits religious discrimination and provides for freedom of religion and worship consistent with public order, social peace, and national unity. It provides for the separation of state and religion and prohibits religiously affiliated political parties.
- 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report: Niger
The Government of Niger does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Niger remained on Tier 2. These efforts included identifying and referring more victims to the government’s shelter in Zinder and launching the country’s national referral mechanism (NRM) in partnership with an international organization.
- NIGER-2020-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT
The constitution prohibits religious discrimination and provides for freedom of religion and worship consistent with public order, social peace, and national unity. It provides for the separation of state and religion and prohibits religiously affiliated political parties. Implementation of the 2019 National Worship Strategy was hindered by COVID-19 restrictions, civil unrest, and the government focus on the December general election.
- NIGER 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
Niger is a multiparty republic. In the first round of the presidential elections on December 27, Mohamed Bazoum of the ruling coalition finished first with 39.3 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Mahamane Ousman finished second with 16.9 percent. A second round between the two candidates was scheduled for February 21, 2021. President Mahamadou Issoufou, who won a second term in 2016, was expected to continue in office until the second round was concluded and the winner sworn into office. International and domestic observers found the first round of the presidential election to be peaceful, free, and fair.
- NIGER 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report
The Government of Niger does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore Niger remained on Tier 2.
- NIGER 2019 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT
The Ambassador and other embassy representatives continued to advocate for religious freedom and tolerance through meetings with government and religious leaders. The Ambassador raised religious freedom with the interior minister and the foreign minister, encouraging broad engagement with Muslim associations in the government’s efforts to promote religious tolerance and counter extremist messages.
- NIGER 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
Significant human rights issues included: reports of unlawful killings and forced disappearances by the government, allied militias, terrorists, and armed groups; arbitrary arrest and detention by government security forces and armed groups; harsh and life-threatening prison and detention center conditions; political prisoners; interference with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; lack of accountability for cases of violence against women and girls due in part to government inaction; and caste-based slavery and forced labor, including forced or child labor.
- Niger Security Governance Initiative 2018 Review (PDF 311 KB)
Now in its fourth year, the Security Governance Initiative (SGI) promotes the transparent, accountable, and legitimate management and oversight of security policy and practice. SGI Niger focuses on strategic planning, aligning resources to security needs, and improving communication with the population. Niger’s political landscape remained stable throughout 2018, but the country faces active threats emanating from its border regions, and its security and defense forces continue to battle violent extremist groups. Nevertheless, Niger is a highly committed SGI partner country and continues to make impressive progress toward achieving JCAP objectives.
- NIGER 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report (PDF 418 KB)
The Government of Niger does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore Niger was upgraded to Tier 2. These efforts included convicting more traffickers; training more law enforcement officers, justice sector personnel, local officials, and civil society members to recognize trafficking indicators and investigate trafficking cases; coordinating with traditional leaders to house children removed from forced labor; increasing its public awareness campaigns using multiple media platforms; partnering with an Islamic cleric to address the common issue of marabouts using children for forced labor in begging; and addressing issues related to traditional slavery practices.
- NIGER 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT (PDF 375 KB )
Niger is a multiparty republic. President Issoufou Mahamadou won a second term in 2016. He won 92 percent of the vote in a second round boycotted by the opposition. The African Union certified the election as free and fair despite the criticism of some domestic observers who noted the jailing of the leadership of the lead opposition party among other irregularities. The government refused to follow a Constitutional Court ruling in 2017 for a parliamentary election in the district of Maradi to replace a representative who had died. The political opposition boycotted a political mediation council and the newly formed National Independent Electoral Commission through much of the year.
- NIGER 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report (PDF 137 KB)
The Government of Niger does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated significant efforts during the reporting period by reporting law enforcement and victim identification data for the first time in three years, increasing anti-trafficking training for law enforcement officials and judges, and expanding outreach and awareness programs that included civil society, religious leaders, journalists, and security forces.
- NIGER 2017 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT (PDF 251 KB )
Niger is a multiparty republic. President Issoufou Mahamadou won a second term in March 2016 with 92 percent of the vote. The African Union certified the election as free and fair over the criticism of some domestic observers, who noted the jailing of the entire leadership of the lead opposition party among other irregularities. The government refused to follow a Constitutional Court ruling for a parliamentary election in the district of Maradi to replace a representative who had died.
- NIGER 2017 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT (PDF 36 KB)
The U.S. Ambassador and embassy representatives continued to advocate for religious freedom and tolerance through meetings with government leaders. Embassy representatives met with Muslim and Christian representatives and supported inter and intrafaith dialogues throughout the country. The embassy hosted events and organized outreach activities with religious and civil society leaders to promote religious tolerance and encourage interfaith dialogue, including several interfaith iftars.
- Security Governance Initiative 2017 Review ( PDF 990 KB)
The SGI Niger JCAP, signed in October 2015, focuses on conducting a national security review to develop a strategic framework, aligning Government of Niger (GON) resources to security needs, and improving external communications. The GON showed steady progress in 2017 through high-level engagement and participation from across the government. As a result, SGI in Niger is a front-runner within SGI, both in terms of progress and implementation.
- International Religious Freedom Report ( PDF 30 KB)
The annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom – the International Religious Freedom Report – describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report covers government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. The U.S. Department of State submits the reports in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
- 2017-Trafficking in Persons Report (PDF 93 KB)
The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. It is also the world’s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-human trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue. It represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it. The U.S. Government uses the TIP Report to engage foreign governments in dialogues to advance anti-trafficking reforms and to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection and prosecution programs. Worldwide, the report is used by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations alike as a tool to examine where resources are most needed. Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the U.S Government’s anti-human trafficking policy.
- Niger 2016 Human Rights Report (PDF 148 KB)
2016 Report for Niger
