Harikanassou | |
---|---|
Commune and village | |
Coordinates: 13°15′31″N2°50′29″E / 13.25861°N 2.84139°E | |
Country | Niger |
Region | Dosso |
Department | Boboye |
Population (2012) | |
• Total | 23,567 |
Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Harikanassou is a large village and rural commune in the Boboye Department of the Dosso Region of southwest Niger, 90.7 kilometres (56.4 mi) by road southeast of the capital of Niamey. At the time of the 2012 census, the rural community had 23,567 residents living in 3,340 households. Onion cultivation is a chief source of income for many, along with the cultivation of lettuce, beans, squashes, and tomatoes.
The rural community of Harikanassou emerged as an administrative unit in 2002 as part of a nationwide administrative reform from the western part of the canton of Harikanassou/Kiota. In the 2012 census, the rural community had 23,567 residents living in 3,340 households. [1] Ethnically, the inhabitants mainly belong to the Zarma and Fula (Fulbe) ethnic groups. [2]
The commune lies in the Dallol Bosso valley in southwest Niger in the Dosso Region, near the border with the Tillabéri Region, 90.7 kilometres (56.4 mi) by road southeast of the capital of Niamey. [3] It borders the communes of N'Gonga to the south, Kouré in the southwest, Koygolo in the north, Diantchandou in the northwest and Kiota in the east. [4] The commune contains 32 administrative villages, 22 hamlets and 7 camps.
During the dry season, the last wild population of West African giraffes migrate from Kouré to the Harikanassou area. [5]
The municipal council (conseil municipal) has 11 elected members. Following the 2020 local elections, the seats in the municipal council are distributed as follows: 6 PNDS-Tarayya, 2 RNDP-Aneima Banizoumbou, 1 ANDP-Zaman Lahiya, 1 MNSD-Nassara and 1 PJP-Génération Doubara. [6] Each of the 32 villages in the municipality, including the main town, is headed by a traditional mayor (chef traditionnel). [1]
Due to its location in the valley of the Dallol Bosso, the water table is only a few meters below the surface of the earth, which allows the creation of irrigated vegetable gardens. Onion cultivation is a chief source of income for many in the commune, [7] and lettuce, beans, squashes, and tomatoes are also grown. Many of the male residents go to the city or to neighboring Nigeria to find work during the dry season. [8] A market is held in the main town. [9] The state supply center for agricultural resources and materials (CAIMA) maintains a point of sale in the main town. [10]
Health Centers of the Center de Santé Intégré (CSI) exist in the main town and in the settlement of Kouringuel Mayaki. The CEG Harikanassou is a general secondary school belonging to the Collège d'Enseignement Général (CEG). [11] There is a mosque in the main settlement of Harikanassou. [3]
The regions of Niger are subdivided into 63 departments. Before the devolution program on 1999–2005, these departments were styled arrondissements. Confusingly, the next level up (regions) had, before 2002-2005 been styled departments. Prior to a revision in 2011, there had been 36 departments. A draft law in August 2011 would expand that number to 63. Until 2010, arrondissements remained a proposed subdivision of departments, though none were used. The decentralisation process, begun in the 1995-1999 period replaced appointed Prefects at Departmental or Arrondissement level with elected councils, first elected in 1999. These were the first local elections held in the history of Niger. Officials elected at commune level are then selected as representatives at Departmental, regional, and National level councils and administration. The Ministry of Decentralisation was created to oversee this task, and to create a national consultative council of local officials.
Dosso is a city in the south-west corner of Niger. It lies 130–140 kilometres (81–87 mi) south-east of the capital Niamey at the junction of the main routes to Zinder and Benin. The eighth-most populous town in Niger and the largest in Dosso Region, it had an official population during the 2001 census of 43,561. The population grew to 58,671 in the 2012 census. It is the capital of its region - which covers five departments in the southwestern corner of the nation - as well as of its own department, Dosso Department. The city itself lies at the centre of its own Urban Commune.
Dosso is one of the eight Regions of Niger. The region has an area of 31,002 square kilometres (11,970 sq mi), with a population of 2,078,339 as of 2011.
The Departments of Niger are subdivided into communes. As of 2005, in the seven Regions and one Capital Area, there were 36 départements, divided into 265 communes, 122 cantons and 81 groupements. The latter two categories cover all areas not covered by Urban Communes or Rural Communes, and are governed by the Department, whereas Communes have elected councils and mayors. Additional semi-autonomous sub-divisions include Sultanates, Provinces and Tribes (tribus). The Nigerien government estimates there are an additional 17000 Villages administered by Rural Communes, while there are over 100 Quartiers administered by Urban Communes.
Abdou Moumouni University, formerly the University of Niamey from 1974 to 1994, is a public university based in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The main campus is situated on the right bank of the Niger River. Historically, its students and faculty have been involved in protest movements in the capital.
The Dosso Kingdom is a precolonial state in what is now southwest Niger which has survived in a ceremonial role to the modern day.
Niger is divided into eight regions, each of which is named after its capital.
Say is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital city is Say, and includes the towns of Guéladjo, Tamou, and Torodi. It abuts the urban Region of Niamey, and lies across the Niger River to the southwest of the capital. It extends to the Burkina Faso border over 60 km to the west, and the northernmost border with Benin in the south. The Say area is today divided between the riverine valley in the east of the Department, and the more sparsely populated areas to the west, which are intercut with a series of eastward flowing tributaries. The Niger river, a broad shallow channel at Niamey and at Say, passes through a series of gorges and cataracts, called the "W" bend for the shape the river takes, in the south of the Say Department. To the west of these rapids lies what is now the W Regional Park, a sparsely populated area historically plagued by insect borne diseases of both humans and cattle. Now a park and tourist attraction, its history as a "no mans land" has made it a refuge for remaining wild animals, as well as several undisturbed archeological sites. From at least the 16th century CE, the Songhai proper moved south into this area from the north around what is now Tera. The inhabitants at the time were related to the Gourma people, who form most of the population of the northwestern part of the Department today. In the 18th and 19th century, the town of Say was founded by Fulani migrants from the Gao region of modern Mali, with others expanding from what is now northeast Burkina Faso. Between 1810 and the arrival of European writer Heinrich Barth in 1854, Fulani Muslims led by Alfa Mohamed Diobo of Djenné had established the Emirate of Say. The reputation for piety and learning of Mohamed Diobo and his followers helped turn Say from a small river village into a town of 30,000, famed across West Africa as a center of learning.
The Dosso Partial Faunal Reserve is a nature reserve in the southwest Dosso Region of Niger. It is a Partial Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, established 1 January 1962. The reserve covers 3,065 square kilometres in the mouth of Dallol Bosso valley, a seasonal wash and ancient riverbed running from the Azawagh region, near where it reaches the Niger River valley. It is situated near the W du Niger National Park.
The West African giraffe, also known as the Niger giraffe or Nigerian giraffe, is a species or subspecies of the giraffe distinguished by its light colored spots. It is found in the Sahel of West Africa.
Niger is governed through a four layer, semi-decentralised series of Administrative divisions. Begun 1992, and finally approved with the formation of the Fifth Republic of Niger on 18 July 1999, Niger has been enacting a plan for Decentralisation of some state powers to local bodies. Prior to the 1999-2006 project, Niger's subdivisions were administered via direct appointment from the central government in Niamey. Beginning with Niger's first municipal elections of 2 February 1999, the nation started electing local officials for the first time. Citizens now elect local committee representatives in each Commune, chosen by subdivisions of the commune: "Quarters" in towns and "Villages" in rural areas, with additional groupings for traditional polities and nomadic populations. These officials choose Mayors, and from them are drawn representatives to the Department level. The Departmental council, Prefect, and representatives to the Regional level are chosen here using the same procedure. The system is repeated a Regional level, with a Regional Prefect, council, and representatives to the High Council of Territorial Collectives. The HCCT has only advisory powers, but its members have some financial, planning, educational and environmental powers. The central government oversees this process through the office of the Minister of State for the Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization.
Abala, Niger is a village and rural commune in Niger.
Hamdallaye is a village and rural commune in Niger. In 2012, it had a registered population of 57,002 inhabitants. It is located in the southwest of the country, near the Niger River, the border with Mali and Burkina Faso and the national capital, Niamey. It is the location of a U.S. Peace Corps training site, a weekly market and a mosque.
Tarka, Niger is a village and rural commune in Niger. It is located in the Belbédji Departement of the Zinder Region. As of 2010 the commune had a population of 86,695.
Tassara is a village and rural commune in Niger.
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Torodi is a small town and a rural commune in Niger. As a rural center, Torodi hosts a large weekly market and the seat of local tribal authority (canton). Torodi is in the Say Department of the Tillaberi Region, which surrounds the national capital, Niamey. Say Department, with its capital at the large Niger River town of Say, abuts Niamey to the southwest and across the river to the west. The town of Torodi lies about 60 km due west of the city of Say and 50 km east of the border with Burkina Faso. Torodi itself lies on a tributary of the Niger, the Gourbi river.
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Kouré is a rural community located 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The town lies on both sides of the road from Niamey to Dallol Bosso.
Issaka Assane Karanta was a Nigerien academic, academic administrator, and politician. He served as the Mayor of Commune I of Niamey from 1996 to 1999 and the Mayor of Commune III of Niamey from 2010 to 2011. Karanta also served as the Governor of Niamey Capital District, which encompasses the capital city of Niamey, from 2018 until his death in office from COVID-19 on 23 December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Niger.