 | The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has one for this country Travel warning released (Web link). Warnings are given against traveling to the following provinces and regions:
|
| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Niamey |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Parliamentary democracy |
| currency | CFA Franc (XOF) |
| surface | 1.27 million km² |
| population | 16.3 million |
| languages | French |
| Religions | Muslim 80% |
| Connector system | 220V / 50Hz (European plug) |
| Phone code | 227 |
| Internet TLD | .ne |
| Time zone | UTC 1 |
The inland with 16 million inhabitants Niger lies in the west Africa. It is adjacent to the west Mali and Burkina Faso, in the north Algeria and Libya, in the east to the Chad and in the south Nigeria and Benin. Niger is a former French colony and gained independence in 1960.
Regions
Niger is divided into seven departments and the capital district.
Other goals
background
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and is located in the Sahel region and has been severely affected by global warming. Furthermore, the rapidly growing population in a region that was already heavily overpopulated fifty years ago is worsening the economic situation immensely. Above all, the abundant uranium deposits ensure the country has a French military presence, which also ensures governments that are favorable to Western raw material companies.
getting there
Except for nationals of neighboring African countries, all visitors require a visa. This is available in Germany:
- Embassy, Machnower Str. 24, 14165 Berlin. Tel.: 49 30 80589660. Application form in duplicate. Applications can only be submitted in person, processing time 1-2 weeks.Open: Mon.-Thurs. 9.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m., Fri. to 2.00 p.m.Price: single entry € 61; up to 3 months multiple € 100.
Responsible for Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria (there is also an honorary consulate there, Kärntner Ring 10, 1010 Vienna) is:
- Section consulaire de l'Ambassade, 23 avenue de France, 1202 Geneve. Price: single entry 150 sfr, multiple 210 sfr.
See also: List of Niger diplomatic missions abroad
- inch
The internationally common cigarette and one liter of schnapps can be imported duty-free. Coffee is limited to 100 g and tea to 40 g.
By plane
There are two international airports: Niamey (Diori Hamani Airport; IATA: NIM) and Agadez (Mano Dayak; IATA: AJY). There are flights to and from West Africa to Niamey Europe. The only company that has direct flights from outside Africa is Air France. In addition, owns Royal Air Maroc good connections via Casablanca.
There are a total of 27 airports, nine of which have paved runways.
By train
The route from Niamey to Cotonou the capital Benins inaugurated. However, trains did not run until April 2018, and Chinese investors should now participate.
By bus
The state Sociéte Nigérienne de Transports de Voyageurs (SNTV) operates long-distance bus routes from Niamey to the neighboring countries:
- Cotonou - Lomé – Accra
- Ouagadougou
- Bamako
- Gao
In the street
There is right-hand traffic. International driving licenses of the Geneva model are recognized (i.e. Austrian, but not German or Swiss). Highways are the numbered ones Routes national (RN).
By boat
From mid-December to March, the Niger River is from the direction Nigeria to Niamey navigable.
mobility
The road network is 10,000 km long. Only 800 km of it are paved. Almost all paved roads are toll roads. In the desert in particular, the roads shown on the maps are mostly just slopes, i.e. strips marked with empty barrels and old car tires.
SNTV connects the main cities on the routes:
- Niamey - Maradi - Zinder
- Niamey - Tahoua - Agadez - Arlit
- Zinder - Agadez - Arlit
- Zinder - Diffa - N'guigmi
language
In addition to the official language French, Haussa (various dialects), Djerma, Tamaschek (the Tuareg language) and Fulfulde (the Fulbe language) are also spoken.
Other foreign languages such as English or German are still not widely used; Outside of the hotels, basic knowledge of French is therefore useful.
to buy
The currency unit is the Franc CFA (= 100 centimes), which has a fixed exchange rate ratio to the euro: 1 euro = 656 CFA, 1000 CFA just under 1.50 euros. In addition to the few banks, most hotels change euros into the local currency. Sometimes the retailers in cities also accept euros. It is therefore advantageous to have small euro bills with you. There is no ATM network in Niger outside of the capital. If at all credit cards are accepted Visa.
Usual business hours are Mon.-Sat. 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., Sun. 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Banks' business hours are usually shorter (in the morning until 11:30 a.m., in the afternoon until 5 p.m., not on weekends).
Of course, when buying it acted (Except in the few supermarkets): You can bid half of the first offer as a counter-proposal. Almost always you will then move towards each other and meet somewhere.
public holidays
security
There is a ban on photography for anything that could have any military significance. This also includes uniformed men.
As a white man, you shouldn't be on the street after dark.
- Mine hazard
The mines laid in the course of the officially resolved armed conflict between rebel groups and the military, which are not limited to the Agadez region, pose particular dangers. There is a risk of accidental victimization, as there is still a mine hazard in the Aïr and parts of the Djado Mountains (extreme northeast of Niger). The affected zones are known to local guides and the military and must be bypassed extensively.[1]
health
For Niger is one Yellow fever vaccination mandatory (the international vaccination card is checked on arrival). The country offers almost the entire spectrum of tropical diseases.
The following vaccinations are urgently recommended:
- Tetanus / Diphtheria
- polio
- Hepatitis A, B and E[2]
- typhus
- Meningococci
- measles
It exists all year round Malaria risk throughout the country including cities. The risk is naturally higher in the southern parts of the country, but malaria must also be expected in the Sahara oases. Therefore, malaria prophylaxis should be carried out throughout the trip. Since dengue fever also occurs, you should seek protection from stings all day.
During the dry season there is an increased risk of infection for Meningococcal meningitis. During this time, which lasts approximately until May, most meningococcal meningitis cases are reported in Africa. The vaccination centers offer a mining cococcus vaccination.
Nationwide there is an increased risk of infection for various Intestinal infectionsthat are transmitted through contaminated food or drinks (e.g. hepatitis A or E, typhoid, bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, Lambliasis, Worm diseases, Norvo viruses, cholera). In addition to appropriate vaccinations, strict food hygiene is therefore a top priority. Only about 0.8% of the adult population is infected with HIV.
In fresh water, especially in the southern parts of the country, you have to Schistosomiasis be expected.
Medical care is in the area of Niamey comparatively good, hardly available in the remote areas of the north.
climate
The south has a humid tropical climate with summer rain. One can distinguish four seasons.
- First hot spell from March to the end of May: very high temperatures up to 45 ° C, at night it only cools down to just below 30 ° C.
- Rainy season from June to September: very heavy rains and high humidity in the south; Day temperatures up to 35 ° C, at night 20-25 ° C.
- Second hot spell from October to mid-November: hardly any precipitation, clear skies, temperatures 35 ° C during the day and around 20 ° C at night.
- Cold season from the end of November to the end of February: dry, around 30 ° C during the day, around 15 ° C at night.
The north has a desert climate (Sahara), sometimes no rain falls here for years. The strong temperature fluctuations between day and night are typical (more pronounced on sandy soil than on rocky ground). From December to February, night temperatures close to freezing point must be expected in the Sahara. The hottest months are April to June (the maximum daily temperatures in Agadez then reach an average of 46 ° C, at night 15-25 ° C).
respect
The usual restraint in Muslim countries applies.
Practical advice
- Consulates
See the section Diplomatic missions in the capital article.
- Telephone and Internet
International country code: ☎ 227
Phone calls are made almost exclusively with the cell phone. Remote regions are served with radio and microwave radio links as well as a state-owned satellite system. The semi-state company SONITEL (cell phone arm SAHEL-TEL) controls telecommunication, internet censorship takes place.
literature
- Jenkins, Mark; Trip to Timbuktu: on the Niger and through the Sahara the heart of Africa; Augsburg 2004 (Weltbild);
- Klute, Georg; Tuareg Riot in the Desert: A Contribution to the Anthropology of Violence and War; Cologne 2013; ISBN 9783896457325 [History 1990-98]
- Obert, Michael; Magic rain: on the Niger into the interior of Africa; Munich 2005 (Frederking & Thaler); ISBN 389405249X
