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niger

about niger

official name: Republic of Niger
capital: Niamey
head of state: President Mamadou Tandja
state: multi party
population: 10,3 million
independence: from France in 1958
languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
religion: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)
media: NA

legal wise

status of homosexuality: legal
age of consent: 21
laws covering homosexual activity: The relevant Articles of the Niger penal code translated, are:

Penal Code of Niger 1993

Public Indecency
Article 275: Public indecency is any material act that affronts public decency committed under conditions that a third party likely to be offended by it has witnessed or may have witnessed.

Article 276: Any person who commits public indecency will be punished by three months to three years of prison and a fine between 10 000 and 100 000 francs.

Indecent Assault
Article 277: Any indecent act committed with impunity directly on a person of one or the other sex constitutes indecent assault.

Lewd Act on Minor of the Same Sex
Article 282: Whoever has committed a lewd act or an act against nature on a minor of the same sex under twenty-one years of age will be punished by imprisonment of Three months to three years and a fine of 10 000 to 100 000 francs.

(Source: - Bernard Scholl - 14 June 1999) ILGA

In the original French

background information and government attitudes: NA

communication

mainline telephones: 16,000 (1997)
cellular telephones: 13,000 (1995)
internet country code: .ne
internet service providers: 1 (2000)
internet users: 3,000 (2000)

links and contacts
NA

barkar, between hope and fear
November 2002: Life as a child prostitute, an escape from prison, fleeing to Benin and then Holland. The real life drama of Barka courtesy of GayKrant. More…

islamic groups opposed to fashion festival banned
November 18, 2000: The government of Niger has banned Islamic groups which participated in violent demonstrations against the country's Second International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA). More...

muslem organisations block campaign to fight aids
September 8, 1999: Muslem "action commandos" have become one of the biggest obstacles in the fight against AIDS in Niger, according to medical professionals in Niamey. More...

Behind the Mask are looking for contacts in or stories on Niger. Mail us at info@mask.org.za if you can help.