Parts of this article (those related to creation of 27 departments in 2011) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2024)
The departments ofNiger are subdivided intocommunes. As of 2005[update], in the seven regions and one Capital Area, there were 36départements, divided into 265communes, 122cantons and 81groupements.[1] The latter two categories cover all areas not covered byUrban Communes (population over 10000) orRural Communes (population under 10000), and are governed by the Department, whereas Communes have (since 1999) elected councils and mayors. Additional semi-autonomous sub-divisions includeSultanates,Provinces andTribes (French:tribus).[2] The Nigerien government estimates there are an additional 17000 villages administered byRural Communes, while there are over 100quartiers (boroughs or neighborhoods) administered byUrban Communes.[3]
The territorial reorganisation of Niger's local administration, known informally as theDecentralisation process, was carried out through a series of laws from 1998 to 2005. Most importantly:
The Constitution of 9 August 1999 ;
Law n°98-032 of 14 September, determining the statutes forCommunautés Urbaines ;
Law n°2001-023 of 10 August 2001, creating the administrative boundaries andTerritorial Collectivities (French:collectivités territoriales);
Law n° 2002-017 of 11 June 2002, determining the independent administration of Regions, Departments, and Communes, as well as their obligations and resources;[4]
Law n° 2002-014 of 11 June 2002, for the creation of the Communes and the fixing of their boundaries and seats (French:chefs-lieux).[5]
Since 2011 there are 63 departments and four cities
While often translated as "town", Nigeriencommunes are simply the third-level administrative subdivision of the country. These can be classifiedUrban orRural communes, and while often identical in territory to the administrative unit of a town or city, all areas of the country fall within a commune. The communes are listed below, by department.
Communauté Urbaine de Niamey (CUN) includes fiveUrban Communes and 99Quarters, each with elected representatives (délégués de commune) to theCouncil of the Communauté Urbaine de Niamey.
