Changes

The constitution also provides for the popular election of municipal and local officials, and the first-ever successful municipal elections took place July 24, 2004. The National Assembly passed in June 2002 a series of decentralization bills. As a first step, administrative powers have been distributed among 265 communes (local councils); in later stages, regions and departments will be established as decentralized entities. A new electoral code was adopted to reflect the decentralization context. The country is currently divided into 8 regions, which are subdivided into 36 districts (departments). The chief administrators in each region (Governor) and department (Prefect) are appointed by the government and function primarily as the local agents of the central authorities.  

The constitution also provides for the popular election of municipal and local officials, and the first-ever successful municipal elections took place July 24, 2004. The National Assembly passed in June 2002 a series of decentralization bills. As a first step, administrative powers have been distributed among 265 communes (local councils); in later stages, regions and departments will be established as decentralized entities. A new electoral code was adopted to reflect the decentralization context. The country is currently divided into 8 regions, which are subdivided into 36 districts (departments). The chief administrators in each region (Governor) and department (Prefect) are appointed by the government and function primarily as the local agents of the central authorities.  

The legislature elected in December 2004 contained seven political parties. President Mamadou Tandja was re-elected in December 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In February 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed Tandia. Issoufou Mahamadou was elected in April 2011 and reelected in early 2016. In February 2021, Bazoum Mohammed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one popularly elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta once again seized power, according to the [[CIA]], in late April 2023,<ref>[https://sonar21.com/niger-coup-a-contrived-crisis-or-a-major-cia-goof-and-my-interview-on-a-russian-morning-show/#respond NIGER COUP — A CONTRIVED CRISIS OR A MAJOR CIA GOOF?], Larry Johnson, August 8, 2023.</ref> detaining President Bazoum, and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Salvation of the Homeland.

The legislature elected in December 2004 contained seven political parties. President Mamadou Tandja was re-elected in December 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In February 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed Tandia. Issoufou Mahamadou was elected in April 2011 and reelected in early 2016. In February 2021, Bazoum Mohammed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one popularly elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta once again seized power, according to the [[CIA]], in late April 2023,<ref>[https://sonar21.com/niger-coup-a-contrived-crisis-or-a-major-cia-goof-and-my-interview-on-a-russian-morning-show/#respond NIGER COUP — A CONTRIVED CRISIS OR A MAJOR CIA GOOF?], Larry Johnson, August 8, 2023.</ref> detaining President Bazoum, and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Salvation of the Homeland. According to [[Western alliance|Wester]] [[mainstream media]], the coup did not occur until the end of July 2023.<ref>

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal Government Officials===