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Country Background

Niger is a landlocked country located in Western Africa. It is bounded by Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Algeria. The capital of Niger is Niamey. The official language is French. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 19.2 million. Niger is a predominantly Muslim country, with about 80% of the population Muslim. Niger is a member state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Niger is referred to as a semi-presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Niger was adopted in 2010. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Niger is a mixed legal system of civil law (based on French civil law) and customary laws/traditions. 

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Niger. 

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Niger. 

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Niger has no official school of Islamic law. The majority of the Muslim population in the country is Sunnī (adhering to the Mālikī school). 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • Assemblée Nationale - site is down; see archived versions here
• Executive
  • Government Portal
  • President
• Judicial
  
  • for an overview of Niger's court system, see the GlobaLex summary here (in French)

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Niger (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Niger (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Niger (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Niger (World Intellectual Property Organization)
• Juricaf: Niger decisions in French

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].