Diffa is a city and Urban Commune in the extreme southeast of

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesNigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

. It is the administrative seat of both

Diffa Region Diffa is one of the seven Regions of Niger, located in the southeast of the country. The capital of the region is Diffa. Geography Diffa Region is situated in the extreme southeast of Niger between 10° 30’ and 15° 35’ longitude East and ...

, and the smaller Diffa Department.Geels, Jolijn, (2006) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Niger'', pgs. 229-31Idrissa, Abdourahmane & Decalo, Samuel, ''Historical Dictionary of Niger'' (4th ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (2012) , the commune had a total population of 48,005 people.

History

In 2002, it was the centre of the first military uprising in the country since President

Tandja Mamadou Mamadou Tandja (1938 – 24 November 2020) was a Nigerien politician who was President of Niger from 1999 to 2010. He was President of the National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) from 1991 to 1999 and unsuccessfully ran as the MNS ...

instituted civilian rule and led to a crackdown by the government against the civilian press.

Nigerian refugees

In recent years refugees from Nigeria fleeing violence from

Boko Haram Boko Haram, officially known as ''Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād'' ( ar, جماعة أهل السنة للدعوة والجهاد, lit=Group of the People of Sunnah for Dawah and Jihad), is an Islamic terrorist organization ba ...

have settled in Diffa and surrounding area.

Geography

Diffa is situated on the north bank of the Komadougou Yobe river; the river's seasonal floodplain lies immediately to the south and east. Much of the riverbank is lined with gardens and small allotments which grow the town's well-known red peppers. The town is bisected in an arc by the Route Nationale 1 road; the eastern part of town is centred on the ''Grand Marché'', which also acts as the transport hub for the city.

Climate

Diffa has a hot climate with a wet and dry season. On 7 September 1978, Diffa recorded a temperature of , which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Niger.

Architecture

Sports buildings

A traditional wrestling arena is located to the northeast of the ''Grand Marché''. Diffa Stadium can be found west of the RN1.

Religious buildings

The town contains several mosques, most notably the Grande Mosquée de Diffa on the RN1.

Transport

Diffa marks the eastern end of the paved section of Route Nationale 1, the main east-west highway across Niger, although the section between

Zinder Zinder (locally, ''Damagaram''), formerly also spelled Sinder, is the third largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 (2001 census);

and Diffa is only partially paved in places. RN1 continues north to N'guigmi more than 100 km. Maïné-Soroa, the other major town of the Region, lies less than 100 km to the west of Diffa. The border with

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

, at the Nigerian town of Duji, is 5.5 km to the south of Diffa. Diffa Airport lies to the north of the town.

Gallery

File:Conseil de ville Diffa.JPG, Headquarters of the Regional council File:School gate diffa niger 2006.jpg, A school in Diffa File:Diffa palais de Justice.JPG, The ''Palais de Justice''

References

{{Authority control Communes of Niger