Legal System of Niger

Niger is located in Africa. It is geographically situated in western africa, southeast of algeria. The country achieved independence on 3 august 1960 (from france). The capital is Niamey.

Government Overview

Government Type: formerly, semi-presidential republic Chief of State: President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023) Head of Government: CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the CNSP Administrative Divisions: 7 regions (régions, singular - région) and 1 capital district* (communauté urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder National Holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Niger is described as note: following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010 Amendment Process: formerly proposed by the president of the republic or the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members); Supreme Court (membership NA); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) Judge Selection: High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary to 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years Subordinate Courts: Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral Note: note 1: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger’s government, dissolved the National Assembly; a commission recommended to the junta in February 2025 a minimum of a five-year transition to democratic rule

note 2: In May 2025, Transitional President Tiani signed decrees nominating 194 members of the Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation or CCR), CCR Bureau members, and the Speaker, Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey; the first session of the CCR convened on 28 June 2025

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Nomadic peoples from the Saharan north and agriculturalists from the south settled present-day Niger. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Niger based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.