This article lists political parties in Niger.
Before 2023, Niger had a multi-party political system, characterized by two to three dominant parties and several smaller ones that were often electorally successful enough to gain seats in the National Assembly. These smaller parties frequently formed electoral coalitions with more powerful parties, creating blocs both in government and in opposition.
However, since a military coup in 2023, Niger has been governed by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani. In a significant escalation, all political parties were officially banned and dissolved by decree in March 2025. As a result, the country's multi-party democratic framework has been dismantled, and political activity outside the control of the ruling junta is no longer permitted.
Party naming Nigerien political parties are commonly known both by their acronyms and a nickname. The latter tradition began prior to independence with the Nigerien Democratic Union-Sawaba. Sawaba ("Freedom" in Hausa) became the most common name of the party. Today all large parties have an official "nickname", usually in Hausa, Djerma or other national languages, while the official party name is in French.
Multi-party democracy Niger banned all opposition parties from 1959 (prior to independence) to 1991. During the First Republic (1960–1974), the PPN-RDA was the sole party. From 1987 to 1991, MNSD-Nassara was the only legal party. Both parties survive in somewhat altered forms.
Historical parties
Parties that were represented in parliament of 2021 until 2023 Party Abbr. Leader Politicalposition Ideology Assembly Years active Nigerien Party for Democracy and SocialismPNDS–Tarayya Mahamadou IssoufouCentre-leftSocial democracyDemocratic socialism 1990–2025 Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African FederationMODEN/FA–Lumana Hama AmadouCentre-rightIslamic democracyPan-Africanism2009–2025 Patriotic Movement for the RepublicMPR–Jamuhria Albadé AboubaCentre-right2015–2025 National Movement for the Society of DevelopmentMNSD–Nassara Seyni OumarouCentre-right1989–2025 Democratic and Republican RenewalRDR–Tchandji Mahamane Ousmane 2020–2025 Congress for the RepublicCPR–Inganci 2014–2025 Nigerien Patriotic MovementMPN–Kiishin Kassa Ibrahim Yacouba 2015–2025 Peace, Justice, ProgressPJP–Génération Doubara Salou Djibo 2020–2025 Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and ProgressANDP–Zaman Lahiya Progressivism 1992–2025 Rally for Democracy and ProgressRDP–Jama'a Hamid Algabid Progressive conservatism 1997–2025 Rally for Peace and ProgressRPP–Farrilla Oumarou Malam Alma 2020–2025 Alliance for Democratic RenewalARD–Adaltchi Mutuntchi 2010–2025 Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of NigerAMEN–AMIN 2015–2025 Democratic Movement for the Emergence of NigerMDEN–Falala Tidjani Abdoulkadri 2020–2025 Social Democratic RallyRSD–Gaskiya Amadou CheiffouCentre-left Social democracy2004–2025 Democratic Alternation for Equity in NigerADEN–Karkaraa 2019–2025 Social Democratic PartyPSD–Bassira Sanoussi MareiniCentre-left Social democracy2015–2025 Alliance for Democracy and the RepublicADR–Mahita 2020–2025 Nigerien Rally for Democracy and PeaceRNDP–Aneima Banizoumbou 2019–2025
Smaller contemporary parties PartyAbbr.LeaderIdeologyPolitical positionsYears activeNigerien Self-Management PartyParti Nigérien pour l’Autogestion-Al'oumaPNA-Al'oumaSanoussi JackouConservatism1997–2025Republican Party for Liberty and Progress–NakowaPRLPN-NakowaParty for Socialism and Democracy in Niger Parti pour le socialisme et la démocratie au Niger-AlheriPSDN-AlheriIssaka LaboSocial democracyDemocratic socialismCentre-left1992–2025Union for Democracy and Social ProgressUnion pour la Démocratie et le Progrès SocialUDPS-AmanaCentrism1990–2025Union for Democracy and the RepublicUnion pour la Démocratie et la République-TabbatUDR-TabbatUnion of Independent NigeriensUnion des Nigériens IndépendantsUNI 1999–2025Union of Democratic and Progressive Patriots–ChamouaUPDP-ChamouaCentrism1999–2025Nigerien Development Party
Previously dominant parties +PartyAbbr.Est.Disb.LeaderIdeologyPoliticalpositionsDemocratic and Social ConventionConvention démocratique et sociale-RahamaCDS-Rahama19912025Abdou LaboSocial democracyCentre to Centre-leftNigerien Progressive Party – African Democratic RallyParti Progressiste Nigérien-Rassemblement Démocratique NigerienPPN-RDA1946 (first)1992 (second)1974 (first)2025 (second)Hamani DioriAbdoulaye Hamani DioriBig TentUnion of Popular Forces for Democracy and ProgressUDFP-Sawaba19542025Djibo BakaryNigerien Action Bloc BNA19551956Issoufou Saidou-DjermakoyeUnion of Nigerien Independents and SympathisersUNIS19481957Georges Condat (1948-1953)Ikhia Zodi (1953-1957)ConservatismParty of Independents, Niger–EastParti Independent du Niger-EstPINENigerien Democratic FrontFDN19561958Ikhia Zodi
Coalitions Alliance of the Forces of Change (AFC): a nine (later six) party coalition from 1991 to 1996. Ruling coalition from 1993 to 1994. Union for the Franco-African Community (UCFA): PPN led pro-French Union coalition: 1958. Coordination of Democratic Forces (CFD, Coordination des forces démocratiques): 11 party opposition coalition from 2004. Led by PNDS. Included PPN, PNA-Al'ouma, UNI, UDR-Tabbat.
See also Politics of Niger List of political parties by country
References
Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, 1997. pp. 247–255 ("Political Parties").