For the first 14 years, niger was run by a single party civilian regime under the presidency of Hamami Diori.
President Hamami Diori and visiting german presient Dr. Heinrich Lubke greet crowds on a state visit to Niamey ,1960. Diori's single party rule was characterised by goo relations with the west an a preoccupationwith foreign affairs.
In 1974, a combination of devastating drought and accusationsof rampant corruption resulted in a coup d'tat that overthrew the Diori regime. Col. Seyni Kountche and a small military group ruled the country until Kountch's death in 1987. He was succeeded by his Chief of Staff, Col. Ali Saibou,who some bold steps. He released all political prisoners, liberized some Niger's laws and policies and promulgamated a new constitution. But that was the Second Republic with the constitution of single party rule. It also failed due to the demand by students and youths union. As a result another new constitution came up after discussion and conferences. A transition Government under the leadership of Prof. Andre Saliou, was installed as caretaker Govt. in April 1993, as Third Republic.
At this time freedom of the press flourished with the appearence of several new independent news papers.
The jan. 1995 parliament election ended in rivalries between two parties and Col.Ibrahim Bare over throw the third republic in Jan. 1996 installing another (last) military rule.An attempt was made to draft a new constitution and his party won 57% of seats in Parliament to form the fifth Republic in April 1999.
Mamadou Tandja, President of the Republic of Niger.
