December 18 is celebrated Niger Republic Proclamation Day – countries in West Africa. The country did not interest the colonists for a long time, because it is landlocked. The first European to reach Niger was the Scottish explorer Mungo Park. In the 18th century, the French began to penetrate the territory of Niger, and later the country was included in the French sphere of influence at the Berlin Conference of 1884. In 1900, Niger was declared a military territory, still governed from Zinder. In 1922, the country received the status of a French colony.

Niger began the struggle for liberation from the colonists in 1958, and the republic’s independence was finally declared on August 3, 1960. Niger is now one of the poorest countries in Africa. This is partly due to the geographical location of the country, more than 80% of its territory is occupied by the Sahara desert.

The country has a national park, a national reserve, the city of Agadez, which is called the “gateway to the desert”. Independence Day in Niger is celebrated with solemn events with speeches by political figures. Sports competitions, horse and camel races, and sorghum wrestling competitions are held in the capital of Niamey.