Independence Day in the
Republic of Niger is commemorated on 3 August, marking the nation's independence from France in 1960. Since 1975, it is also
Arbor Day, as trees are planted across the nation to aid the fight against
desertification.
Importance of date
The date of the formal, complete independence from
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
was 3 August 1960, while 18 December 1958 marks the founding of the Republic and creation of the
Presidency of the Republic of Niger, following the constitutional changes of the
French Fifth Republic, and the elections of 4 December 1958 held across
The French Colonial possessions. Nigeriens consider that date to be the founding of their national institutions. Between 18 December 1958 and 3 August 1960, Niger remained a semi-autonomous Republic within the
French Community. At the beginning of 1960 a revision of the French Community allowed membership of independent states, and on 28 July the Nigerien Legislative Assembly became the Nigerien National Assembly: Independence was declared on 3 August 1960.
Commemoration
Since 1960, 3 August has been a national festival. In 1975, the government began celebrating Independence Day, in part, through the coordinated mass planting of trees in order to fight desertification.
[Editorial : le culte de l'exemple](_blank)
Saidou Daoura, Editor, le Sahel (Niamey). 1 August 2011. The celebrations are also known as the .
Independence Day is celebrated in Niger with official festivals and appearances of political leaders, an official broadcast by the
President as well as the tradition (since 1975) that every Nigerien plant a tree. It is a
public holiday, in which government offices and many businesses close.
Participation de la chargée du bureau à la plantation d'arbre du 3 Août
Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement
Niger. .
See also
* History of Niger
* Republic Day (Niger): 18 December
References
* James Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ – London (1979)
* Finn Fuglestad. A History of Niger: 1850–1960. Cambridge University Press (1983) {{ISBN, 0-521-25268-7
Public holidays in Niger
August observances
Niger
Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state Geography of Niger#Political geography, bordered by Libya to the Libya–Niger border, north-east, Chad to the Chad–Niger border, east ...