parties and leaders: Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a
or RDP-Jama'a ; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama
or CDS-Rahama ; Movement for Development and
Progress-Alkwali or MDP-Alkwali ; National
Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Tandja
MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic
Renewal or UNIRD ; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and
Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou
DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Democratic Front-Mutunci or FDN-Mutunci [Ide
OUMAROU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or
PNDS-Tarayya ; Nigerien Social Democrat
Party-Alheri or PSDN-Alheri ; Party for People's
Dignity-Daraja or PDP-Daraja ; Union of
Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua
; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress-Amana or UDPS-Amana ; Union of Popular
Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba or UFPDP-Sawaba [Djibo
BAKARY]; Workers' Movement Party-Albarka or PMT-Albarka [Omar Idi
ANGO]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 483-4224 through 4227

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbro OWENS-KIRKPATRICK
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
FAX: 73 31 67

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white,
and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in
the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked
wheel centered in the white band

@Niger:Economy

Economy - overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation,
whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry,
reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export
since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in
January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the
products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on
bilateral and multilateral aid - which was suspended following the
April 1999 co