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Niger

(nī′jər, nē z̸her′)

river in W Africa, flowing from Guinea through Mali, Niger, & Nigeria into the Gulf of Guinea: c. 2,590 mi (4,168 km)
country in WC Africa, north of Nigeria: formerly a French territory, it became independent in 1960: 489,191 sq mi (1,267,000 sq km); pop. 7,250,000; cap. Niamey

See Niger in American Heritage Dictionary 4

A country of west-central Africa. The Tuareg and Hausa established states in the late Middle Ages, and the region was dominated by the Songhai and Bornu empires in the 16th century. Niger came under the French sphere of influence after the Conference of Berlin (1884-1885) and was made a separate colony within French West Africa in 1922. It achieved independence in 1960. Niamey is the capital and the largest city. Population: 12,900,000.

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