Union for the Franco-African Community


The Union for the Franco-African Community was a political alliance in Niger.

History

The alliance was formed by the Nigerien Progressive Party and the African Regroupment Party in 1958, shortly before the referendum on the French constitution, and was headed by the PPN's Hamani Diori. The PPN had finished second in the 1957 elections, winning 19 of the 60 seats, whilst the PRA had been founded earlier in 1958.
The December 1958 elections saw the alliance win 49 of the 60 seats. The results in Tessaoua and Zinder were later annulled due to irregularities, with the Tessaoua seats awarded to the UCFA, and a by-election scheduled for Zinder. However, ballot papers were only printed for the PPN, and due to fears of violence, Sawaba did not put up candidates, calling for a boycott instead. As a result, the UCFA gained control of all 60 seats.
Following independence the country became a one-party state under the PPN with Diori as president.