The Union of Nigerien Independents and Sympathisers (, UNIS) was a political party in Niger.
History UNIS was established in May 1948 by a mix of former members of the Nigerien Progressive Party (PPN) and independents.Mamadou Djibo (2003) Les enjeux politiques dans la colonie du Niger(1944-1960) Autrepart (27) pp41–60Abdourahmane Idrissa & Samuel Decalo (2012) Historical Dictionary of Niger, Scarecrow Press, p368 In a French National Assembly by-election in June that year, its candidate was elected with 72% of the vote.Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband, p1483 In the full elections in 1951, UNIS won both of the Nigerien seats in the National Assembly.
The 1952 Territorial Assembly elections saw the party win all 35 second college seats.Edward Mortimer (1969) France and the Africans 1944–1960: A political history, Faber, p175 However, it suffered two major splits in the mid-1950s; the first in 1953 followed disagreements about linking with the PPN in order to present a united front, and saw Condat leave to form the Nigerien Progressive Union (UPN). After unsuccessful efforts at uniting the new party with the PPN, Condat rejoined UNIS. The second split in 1955 was caused an attempt by some of its leadership to affiliate UNIS with the group in the French parliament,Idrissa & Decalo, p102Idrissa & Decalo, p480 with the majority of the party leaving to form the Nigerien Action Bloc (BNA).Idrissa & Decalo, p364Idrissa & Decalo, p369
The 1956 French elections saw UNIS receive only 8% of the vote and lose both seats, with a BNA–UPN alliance and PPN winning one each. UNIS was subsequently dissolved when Zodi Ikhia established the Nigerien Democratic Front in 1957.
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