Niger, Republic of (in French, République du Niger), landlocked republic, western Africa, bordered on the north by Algeria and Libya, on the east by Chad, on the south by Nigeria and Benin, and on the west by Burkina Faso and Mali. A former French colony, Niger achieved full freedom on August 3, 1960. It has a total area of 1,267,000 sq km (489,191 sq mi). The capital of Niger is Niamey.