The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country in Western Africa. 

In 1958, while Niger was still part of France, constitutional changes as a result of the establishment of the Fifth French Republic led to elections being held in Niger and the French colonial territories. 

The result was that on December 4th 1958, Niger became a self-governing autonomous state within the French Community.  On December 18th 1958, the Republic of Niger was officially founded. 

On this day, Hamani Diori became president of the country’s provisional government. Diori was later appointed as the first President of the Republic of Niger in 1960 when Niger achieved full independence from France.