Traditional Chiefs and Decentralization in the Region of Tahoua in Niger

Abstract

This paper discusses the relationship between the traditional chief in Niger together with the process of decentralization. The democratic process initiated in the early 90 s in most of the African countries helped to establish a multi-party system as well as kept good government structures. The initiative could solve the excessive centralization of government powers in African countries. In order to understand the decentralization process in Niger, we should not only refer to the democratic context but also we should understand certain historical facts. Besides the context of democracy, it should be noted that the claims of the armed rebellion (1989) based on federalism have led to peace agreements, in the October 9, 1994 and April 24, 1995 between the organization of armed resistance(ORA) and the Government of Niger, to adopt decentralization as a form of governance. The option is a full communalisation by changing the townships (sedentary and area nomadic) in commune status. The communes are headed by an elected mayor. The logic is to make these structures as real poles of local development. But in the same way and during a long time at the head of same township there is a leader who administered his people according to traditional mode. This two kind of powerful can create a social conflict if some rules are not defined. I am interested to region of Tahoua, particularly the two urban communes.