Niger has a multi-party system, with two to three strong political parties and smaller parties electorally successful to take seats in the National Assembly.
These smaller parties frequently enter into electoral coalitions with their more powerful opponents, forming blocs in both government and opposition.
Nigerien political parties are commonly known both by their acronyms and a nickname.
The latter tradition began prior to independence with the Nigerien Democratic Union-Sawaba.
[citation needed] Niger banned all opposition parties from 1959 (prior to independence) to 1991.