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[[Image:nigerflag.gif|thumb|right|250px|The Nigerien flag.]]

[[Image:nigerflag.gif|thumb|right|250px|The Nigerien flag.]]

'''Niger''' is a country in western Africa which gained its independence from France in 1960.  

'''Niger''' is a landlocked country in western Africa.  It gained its independence from [[France]] in 1960, but it still has close ties with bilateral agreements for economic and cultural issues. It has an area of 1,266,902 square kilometers and a population of nearly 13 million people.  The Average life expectancy is only 44 years on average.

The capital of Niger is Niamey.

The capital of Niger is Niamey.

Its economy is based on subsistence farming, as well as the export of [[uranium]].<ref>"Niger's economy of only $9 billion (£5.15 billion) depends on its main export, uranium." http://www.afbis.com/articles/articles/11012075034.html </ref>  

Its economy is based on subsistence farming, as well as the export of [[uranium]].<ref>"Niger's economy of only $9 billion (£5.15 billion) depends on its main export, uranium." http://www.afbis.com/articles/articles/11012075034.html </ref>  NIger is currently the poorist country in the world, ranking last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development.  Fully 42% of the government's budget comes from foreign donations.  <ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ng.html</ref>

In his 2003 [[state of the union address]], President Bush announced that Saddam Hussien was attempting to buy [[uranium]] from Niger based on a British intelligence report.  The accuracy of this intelligence was later questioned.

In his 2003 [[state of the union address]], President Bush announced that Saddam Hussien was attempting to buy [[uranium]] from Niger based on a British intelligence report.  The accuracy of this intelligence was later questioned.