This article lists political parties in Niger.
Before 2023, Niger had a multi-party political system, characterized by two to three dominant parties and several smaller ones that were often electorally successful enough to gain seats in the National Assembly. These smaller parties frequently formed electoral coalitions with more powerful parties, creating blocs both in government and in opposition.
However, since a military coup in 2023, Niger has been governed by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani. In a significant escalation, all political parties were officially banned and dissolved by decree in March 2025. As a result, the country's multi-party democratic framework has been dismantled, and political activity outside the control of the ruling junta is no longer permitted.
Party naming
Nigerien political parties are commonly known both by their acronyms and a nickname. The latter tradition began prior to independence with the Nigerien Democratic Union-Sawaba. Sawaba ("Freedom" in Hausa) became the most common name of the party. Today all large parties have an official "nickname", usually in Hausa, Djerma or other national languages, while the official party name is in French.
Multi-party democracy
Niger banned all opposition parties from 1959 (prior to independence) to 1991. During the First Republic (1960–1974), the PPN-RDA was the sole party. From 1987 to 1991, MNSD-Nassara was the only legal party. Both parties survive in somewhat altered forms.
Historical parties
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Parties that were represented in parliament of 2021 until 2023
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | Party
! Abbr.
! Leader
! Political<br/>position
! Ideology
! Assembly
! Years active
|-
|bgcolor=#FFAEC9 |
|Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism<br/><small></small>
|PNDS–Tarayya || Mahamadou Issoufou
|Centre-left
|Social democracy<br>Democratic socialism
|
|1990–2025
|-
|bgcolor=#F79800 |
|Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation<br/><small></small>
|MODEN/FA–Lumana || Hama Amadou
|Centre-right
|Islamic democracy<br/>Pan-Africanism
|
|2009–2025
|-
|bgcolor=#F36B05 |
|Patriotic Movement for the Republic<br/><small></small>
|MPR–Jamuhria || Albadé Abouba
|Centre-right
|
|
|2015–2025
|-
|bgcolor=#22B14C |
|National Movement for the Society of Development<br/><small></small>
|MNSD–Nassara || Seyni Oumarou
|Centre-right
|
|
|1989–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#007500 |
|Democratic and Republican Renewal<br/><small></small>
|RDR–Tchandji || Mahamane Ousmane
| ||
|
|2020–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#11580C |
|Congress for the Republic<br/><small></small>
|CPR–Inganci ||
| ||
|
|2014–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#FD0405 |
|Nigerien Patriotic Movement<br/><small></small>
|MPN–Kiishin Kassa || Ibrahim Yacouba
| ||
|
|2015–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#000000 |
|Peace, Justice, Progress<br/><small></small>
|PJP–Génération Doubara || Salou Djibo
| ||
|
|2020–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#FF8600 |
|Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress<br/><small></small>
|ANDP–Zaman Lahiya ||
| ||Progressivism
|
|1992–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#FBD127 |
|Rally for Democracy and Progress<br/><small></small>
|RDP–Jama'a || Hamid Algabid
| ||Progressive conservatism
|
|1997–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#3E9949 |
|Rally for Peace and Progress<br/><small></small>
|RPP–Farrilla || Oumarou Malam Alma
| ||
|
|2020–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#D9BF08 |
|Alliance for Democratic Renewal<br/><small></small>
|ARD–Adaltchi Mutuntchi ||
| ||
|
|2010–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#01d9f2 |
|Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger<br/><small></small>
|AMEN–AMIN ||
| ||
|
|2015–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#153568 |
|Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger<br/><small></small>
|MDEN–Falala || Tidjani Abdoulkadri
| ||
|
|2020–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#ff905b |
|Social Democratic Rally<br/><small></small>
|RSD–Gaskiya || Amadou Cheiffou
|Centre-left || Social democracy
|
|2004–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#2C539E |
|Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger<br/><small></small>
|ADEN–Karkaraa ||
| ||
|
|2019–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#9ECF40 |
|Social Democratic Party<br/><small></small>
|PSD–Bassira || Sanoussi Mareini
|Centre-left || Social democracy
|
|2015–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#FEFF03 |
|Alliance for Democracy and the Republic<br/><small></small>
|ADR–Mahita ||
| ||
|
|2020–2025
|-
| bgcolor=#FF8612 |
|Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace<br/><small></small>
|RNDP–Aneima Banizoumbou ||
| ||
|
|2019–2025
|}
Smaller contemporary parties
{| class="wikitable"
!Party
!Abbr.
!Leader
!Ideology
!Political
positions
!Years active
|-
|Nigerien Self-Management Party<br/><small>Parti Nigérien pour l’Autogestion-Al'ouma</small>
|PNA-Al'ouma
|Sanoussi Jackou
|Conservatism
|
|1997–2025
|-
|Republican Party for Liberty and Progress–Nakowa
|PRLPN-Nakowa
|
|
|
|
|-
|Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger <br/><small>Parti pour le socialisme et la démocratie au Niger-Alheri</small>
|PSDN-Alheri
|Issaka Labo
|Social democracy<br/>Democratic socialism
|Centre-left
|1992–2025
|-
|Union for Democracy and Social Progress<br/><small>Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social</small>
|UDPS-Amana
|
|
|Centrism
|1990–2025
|-
|Union for Democracy and the Republic<br/><small>Union pour la Démocratie et la République-Tabbat</small>
|UDR-Tabbat
|
|
|
|
|-
|Union of Independent Nigeriens<br/><small>Union des Nigériens Indépendants</small>
|UNI
|
|
|
|1999–2025
|-
|Union of Democratic and Progressive Patriots–Chamoua
|UPDP-Chamoua
|
|
|Centrism
|1999–2025
|-
|Nigerien Development Party
|
|
|
|
|
|}
Previously dominant parties
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Party
!Abbr.
!Est.
!Disb.
!Leader
!Ideology
!Political<br/>positions
|-
|Democratic and Social Convention<br/><small>Convention démocratique et sociale-Rahama</small>
|CDS-Rahama
|1991
|2025
|Abdou Labo
|Social democracy
|Centre to Centre-left
|-
|Nigerien Progressive Party – African Democratic Rally<br/><small>Parti Progressiste Nigérien-Rassemblement Démocratique Nigerien</small>
|PPN-RDA
|1946 (<small>first</small>)<br/>1992 (<small>second</small>)
|1974 (<small>first</small>)<br/>2025 (<small>second</small>)
|Hamani Diori<br/>Abdoulaye Hamani Diori
|
|Big Tent
|-
|Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress
|UDFP-Sawaba
|1954
|2025
|Djibo Bakary
|
|
|-
|Nigerien Action Bloc
|BNA
|1955
|1956
|Issoufou Saidou-Djermakoye
|
|
|-
|Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathisers
|UNIS
|1948
|1957
|Georges Condat (<small>1948-1953</small>)<br/>Ikhia Zodi (<small>1953-1957</small>)
|Conservatism
|
|-
|Party of Independents, Niger–East<br/><small>Parti Independent du Niger-Est</small>
|PINE
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Nigerien Democratic Front
|FDN
|1956
|1958
|Ikhia Zodi
|
|
|}
Coalitions
- Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC): a nine (later six) party coalition from 1991 to 1996. Ruling coalition from 1993 to 1994.
- Union for the Franco-African Community (UCFA): PPN led pro-French Union coalition: 1958.
- Coordination of Democratic Forces (CFD, Coordination des forces démocratiques): 11 party opposition coalition from 2004. Led by PNDS. Included PPN, PNA-Al'ouma, UNI, UDR-Tabbat.
See also
- Politics of Niger
- List of political parties by country
References
- Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, 1997. pp. 247–255 ("Political Parties").