ocr: The powerful Islamic Sokoto Empire dissolved as the French took Niger over between 1883 and1901. - 1958 Autonomous republic within French community. . 1960 Independence.Hamant Diori's one-party PPN state. - 1968 French open uranium mines. - 1973 Drought; 60% of livestock die;no harvest for two yeas. . 1974 Military coup. Gen. Rountché bans political parties. . 1976 First trade-balance surplus. - 1984 New drought; River Niger dries up for first time in history. Uranium boom ends. - 1987 Kountché dies. Gen. Saibou eases transition to democracy. - 1990 New constitution drawn up. Tuareg rebellion ...
