Diffa

Diffa is a city and Urban Commune in the extreme southeast of Niger, near the border with Nigeria. It is the administrative seat of both Diffa Region, and the smaller Diffa Department.[2][3] As of 2011, the commune had a total population of 48,005 people.[4]

Diffa
Urban Commune
Diffa
Location in Niger
Coordinates: 13°18′53″N 12°37′4″E
Country Niger
RegionDiffa Region
DepartmentDiffa Department
Urban CommuneDiffa
Elevation
938 ft (285 m)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total48,005
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

History

In 2002, it was the centre of the first military uprising in the country since President Tandja Mamadou instituted civilian rule and led to a crackdown by the government against the civilian press.[5][6][7]

Nigerian refugees

In recent years refugees from Nigeria fleeing violence from Boko Haram have settled in Diffa and surrounding area.[8]

Geography
The Grand Marché

Diffa is situated on the north bank of the Komadougou Yobe river; the river's seasonal floodplain lies immediately to the south and east.[2] Much of the riverbank is lined with gardens and small allotments which grow the town's well-known red peppers.[3][2] The town is bisected in an arc by the Route Nationale 1 road; the eastern part of town is centred on the Grand Marché, which also acts as the transport hub for the city.[2]

Architecture

Sports buildings
Stade de Diffa

A traditional wrestling arena is located to the northeast of the Grand Marché.[2] Diffa Stadium can be found west of the RN1.[2]

Religious buildings

The town contains several mosques, most notably the Grande Mosquée de Diffa on the RN1.[2]

Transport

Diffa marks the eastern end of the paved section of Route Nationale 1, the main east-west highway across Niger, although the section between Zinder and Diffa is only partially paved in places.[2] RN1 continues north to N'guigmi more than 100 km. Maïné-Soroa, the other major town of the Region, lies less than 100 km to the west of Diffa. The border with Nigeria, at the Nigerian town of Duji, is 5.5 km to the south of Diffa. Diffa Airport lies to the north of the town.

  • Headquarters of the Regional council
  • A school in Diffa
  • The Palais de Justice

References
  1. Population figures from citypopulation.de, citing (2001) Institut National de la Statistique du Niger.
  2. Geels, Jolijn, (2006) Bradt Travel Guide - Niger, pgs. 229-31
  3. Idrissa, Abdourahmane & Decalo, Samuel, Historical Dictionary of Niger (4th ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (2012) ISBN 0-8108-3136-8
  4. "Annuaires_Statistiques" (PDF). Institut National de la Statistique du Niger. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  5. NIGER: Army mutineers free civilian hostages. 2 August 2002 (IRIN)
  6. Attacks on the Press 2002: Niger. Committee to Protect Journalists. 31 March 2003
  7. Niger's Army Pursuing Mutinous Soldiers. Voice of America. 1 August 2002
  8. Damon, Arwa (11 June 2014). "Where are Nigeria's missing girls? On the hunt for Boko Haram". CNN.com. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

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