Diffa (Region)

The Diffa region is one of the seven regions of Niger, located in the southeast of the country. Its capital is Diffa. The region has 591 788 inhabitants ( 2012).

Geography

Diffa originally bordered on the southeast by Lake Chad. In its geological structure of the region is predominantly attributable to the era Quaternary. In the north include smaller portions for the Precambrian era. In Holocene larger parts of the region formed the lake bottom of the Mega - Lake Chad, whose shorelines are still visible at the output of Dilia -de- Lagane Valley.

Diffa is bordered to the north by Niger's Agadez region, to the east by the Chadian regions Borkou - Ennedi - Tibesti and Kanem, on the south by the Nigerian states of Borno and Yobe and to the west by Niger's Zinder region. The border with Nigeria is partly formed by the river Komadugu Yobe.

History

The Diffa region dates back as an administrative unit in 1964 created the department of Diffa. 1998 Diffa was converted as all previous Nigerien departments in a region. At the same time emerged from the former arrondissements departments, which is why there is still a department called Diffa, Diffa, however, the former district corresponds to and represents an administrative level below the present region. The region was affected by the hunger crisis in Niger during the years 2004-06.

Population

The area of ​​the Diffa region in 1960, the year of independence of Niger, approximately 123,000 inhabitants. The census in 1977 was 167 389 inhabitants, the census 1988 186 792 inhabitants and the 2001 census 346 595 inhabitants. The census in 2012 was 591 788 inhabitants.

Diffa is the only region of Niger, where the Kanuri are the majority. This people group includes 60% of the total population. The second largest group are the Fula 25%. Other ethnic groups in the region are Tubu with 6%, Hausa 4%, Arabs 2%, and Zarma - Songhai and Tuareg with 1% each. In Diffa live in compared to the other parts of Niger, the number and proportionally most Tubu and the fewest Hausa.

Economy and infrastructure

Desertification is a problem for agriculture, most of which residents live, dar. Due to the decrease of Lake Chad farmers are affected by water shortages and fishermen lose their livelihood. There is a rural exodus.

In the region of Diffa, there are 549 primary schools, three of which are private schools. The gross enrollment rate was in the school year 2009/2010 53.5 % ( nationwide 72.9 % ) in girls 52.2 % ( nationwide 63.9 %). At a primary school teacher average of 23 students ( 39 nationwide ) came. The primary school completion rate was 30.9 % ( nationwide 49.3 % ) in girls 28.7 % ( nationwide 41.5 %).

Subdivision

The Diffa Region is divided into six departments Bosso, Diffa, Goudoumaria, Maïné - Soroa, N'Gourti and N'Guigmi.