Complexity of leadership in the context of political governance in Niger

Abstract

Niger is one of the African countries with two cultures; African and Asian (North African Arab and Islam civilization) yet European cultures are mixed into the country’s system. Hence, in these last decades the European culture via colonization dominated others. Through the government system new changes cropped up; the decision makers were changed from the chief executives and religious leaders by the new European universities graduate elites. So, this change had a critical consequence on Niger’s history and its future. This chapter examines Niger’s political situation and the roles of leaders through exploration of Niger’s background and its effect on the leaders. Hence, Niger one of last colonies of France, since independence to now its history is linked by problems generated by political, social and economic instability and the prevalence of ethnic, communal and religious crises. These problems call for the attention of many observers and researchers which most times are linked to the colonizers and their disciples. This study analyzes the complex relationship imbedded within the Nigerien history and its leaders’ background and the state of chaos in the governance which still hampers the country’s development. Therefore, the quest for good leadership as a sine-qua-non for governance and sustainable development is defended in the study.