Zinder Region


Zinder Region is one of the seven Regions of Niger; the capital of the region is Zinder. The Region covers 145,430 km².

History

Numerous Palaeolithic and Neolithic remains, as well as cave paintings, have been found in the Termit Massif.
Zinder was the centre of the Sultanate of Damagaram, a powerful sultanate which dominated much of the surrounding region from the mid-18th century until the French conquest in the 1890s. Zinder was initially the capital of the Niger territory, however this was moved to Niamey in 1926 and thereafter Zinder declined in importance, though it remains an important regional centre.

Geography

Zinder Region is located in the southeast of Niger and covers 145,430 km². It borders Agadez Region to the north, Diffa Region to the east, Nigeria to the south, and Maradi Region to the west. The landscape is primarily Sahelian in the south, merging into the Sahara desert in the north of the region. The terrain is predominantly flat, except for the Koutous Hills, which lie north of Kelle, and the Termit Massif in the far north of the region.

Settlements

is the regional capital; other major settlements include Alakoss, Albarkaram, Bande, Boune, Dakoussa, Dan-Barto, Dantchiao, Daouche, Dogo-Dogo, Falenko, Gaffati, Gamou, Garagoumsa, Gouchi, Gouna, Goure, Guidiguir, Hamdara, Ichirnawa, Kantche, Kelle, Kolleram, Kourni, Kwaya, Magaria, Malawa, Matameye, Mirriah, Moa, Ollelewa, Sassoumbroum, Tanout, Tenhya, Tesker, Tsaouni, Yaouri and Yekoua.

Administrative subdivisions

Zinder is divided into 5 Departments:
As of 2012 the population of the Region was 3,539,764. The main ethnolinguistic groups are various Arab groups, Fulani, Hausa, Kanuri, Dazaga Toubou and Tuareg groups such as the Tayart Tamajeq. The Tagdal language, thought to be a mixed Songhay-Tuareg language, is also spoken.

Governors