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Decentralization/Federalism – 1995

The April 1995 peace agreements provided for the decentralization of the government so that the Niger Tuareg community could manage the northern areas of the country, where it constituted the majority, in a more autonomous way.

Tuareg delegates did not attend an important meeting with the commission for administrative decentralization on 4 July 1995. Official sources gave no explanation, but there were difficulties in implementing the agreement signed a few weeks earlier between the government and the former rebels.¹ According to the news report, contact was resumed with all the movements which signed the peace agreement in April 1995.

On 15 August 1995, the president called a cabinet meeting to discuss a bill determining the functions of the high commissioner for administrative reform and decentralization, and the organization of his units.²

On 14 December 1995, the Special Peace Committee met and one of the issues discussed was the implementation of decentralization law.³

1. “Niger; Tuareg delegates boycott meeting on decentralization,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 6, 1995.
2. “Niger; President convenes cabinet meeting for 15th August,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 12, 1995).
3. “Niger; Special Peace Committee holds fourth session in Niamey,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 15, 1995.