List of political parties in Niger
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This article lists political parties in Niger. Niger has a multi-party system, with two to three strong political parties and smaller parties electorally successful to take seats in the National Assembly. These smaller parties frequently enter into electoral coalitions with their more powerful opponents, forming blocs in both government and opposition.
Party naming
Nigerien political parties are commonly known both by their acronyms and a nickname. The latter tradition began prior to independence with the Nigerien Democratic Union-Sawaba. Sawaba ("Freedom" in Hausa) became the most common name of the party. Today all large parties have an official "nickname", usually in Hausa, Djerma or other national languages, while the official party name is in French.
Multi-party democracy
Niger banned all opposition parties from 1959 (prior to independence) to 1991. During the First Republic (1960-1974), the PPN-RDA was the sole party. From 1987-1991, MNSD-Nassara was the only legal party. Both parties survive in somewhat altered forms.
The parties
Dominant parties of the Third and Fifth Republics
- Democratic and Social Convention CDS-Rahama (Convention démocratique et sociale-Rahama)
- National Movement for the Development of Society MNSD-Nassara (Mouvement National pour la Societé du Développement-Nassara)
- From 1987-1991: Mouvement National de la Societé de Développement (MNSD). Single legal state party.
- Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism PNDS-Tarayya (Parti Nigerien pour la Democratie et le Socialisme-Tarayya)
Dominant party of Fourth Republic
- Rally for Democracy and Progress RDP-Jama'a (Rassemblement pour la Démocratie et le Progrès-Jama'a)
Dominant parties of colonial era, First Republic
- Nigerien Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally PPN-RDA (Parti Progressiste Nigérien-Rassemblement Démocratique Nigerien)
- From 1946-1974: Parti Progressiste Nigérien Sole legal party 1960-1974.
- Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba UDFP-Sawaba
- from 1951-57: Nigerien Democratic Union UDN
- from 1957-59: African Socialist Movement MSA-Sawaba
- from 1959-1991: Banned, under several names.
- from 1991: UDFP-Sawaba
- split 1993: UDFR-Sawaba
- Niger Action Bloc (BNA): 1946-53/1956-57
- Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathizers (UNIS) 1953-1957
- Party of Independents, Niger-East (Parti Independent du Niger-Est, PINE) 1948-1953
- Nigerien Democratic Forces (FDN) 1956-58
Smaller contemporary parties
- Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress ANDP-Zaman Lahiya (Alliance nigérienne pour la démocratie et le progrès-Zaman Lahiya)
- Nigerien Self-Management Party PNA-Al'ouma (Parti Nigérien pour l’Autogestion-Al'ouma)
- Republican Party for Liberty and Progress-Nakowa PRLPN-Nakowa
- Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger PSDN-Alheri (Parti pour le socialisme et la démocratie au Niger-Alheri)
- Social Democratic Rally RSD-Gaskiya (Rassemblement social démocratique-Gaskiya)
- Union for Democracy and Social Progress-Amana UDPS-Amana
- Union for Democracy and the Republic UDR-Tabbat (Union pour la Démocratie et la République-Tabbat)
- Union of Independent Nigeriens UNI (Union des Nigériens Indépendants)
- Union of Democratic and Progressive Patriots-Chamoua UPDP-Chamoua
Coalitions
- Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC): a nine (later six) party coalition from 1991-1996. Ruling coalition from 1993-1994.
- Union for the Franco-African Community (UCFA): PPN led pro-French Union coalition: 1958.
- Coordination of Democratic Forces (CFD, Coordination des forces démocratiques): 11 party opposition coalition from 2004. Led by PNDS. Included PPN, PNA-Al'ouma, UNI, UDR-Tabbat.
See also
References
- Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, 1997. pp. 247–255 ("Political Parties"). ISBN 0-8108-3136-8
