Dosso, Niger


Dosso is a city in the south-west corner of Niger. It lies south-east of the capital Niamey at the junction of the main routes to Zinder and Benin. The eighth-most populous town in Niger and the largest in Dosso Region, it had an official population during the 2001 census of 43,561. The population grew to 58,671 in the 2012 census. It is the capital of its region - which covers five departments in the southwestern corner of the nation - as well as of its own department, Dosso Department. The city itself lies at the centre of its own Urban Commune.

History

Dosso is the seat of the Dosso kingdom, a Zarma chieftaincy which rose to dominate the entire Zarma region in Niger in pre-colonial Niger. The traditional ruler is called Zarmakoy or Djermakoy of Dosso, an autochthonous title meaning literally "King of Djermas" where koy means "king" in Zarma language.

Sites

Attractions in the town include the Djermakoy's palace and museum, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

Transport

The city of Dosso is a commercial hub for trade between Niamey and the towns of eastern Niger, as well as Benin. Dosso has an interim terminus of the Niamey–Cotonou railway presently under construction. In addition, there is a plan for the construction of a dry commercial port.

Notable residents