{{Use British English|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Birni-N'Konni |other_name =Konni |settlement_type =Commune |image_skyline = Konni 02.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Birni-N'Konni |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_map = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Niger |pushpin_label_position =top |pushpin_mapsize = 300 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Niger |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Niger}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Tahoua Region |subdivision_type2 = Department |subdivision_name2 = Bkonni Department |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |established_title = |established_date = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |area_magnitude = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_total_km2 = 861.0 |area_land_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_urban_km2 = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of= 2012<ref name="city">[http://citypopulation.de/Niger-Cities.html Niger: Regions, Cities & Urban Centers - Population statistics] </ref> |population_footnotes = |population_total = 149,414 |population_urban = 63,169 |population_metro = 312,886 (Birni-N'Konni department) |population_density_sq_mi = |population_density_km2 = |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|13|47|30|N|5|15|00|E|region:NE|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes= |elevation_m = 270 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Birni-N'Konni''' (also '''Birnin-Konni''' or shortened to '''Konni'''/'''Bkonni''') is a town in the Tahoua Region of Niger, lying immediately north of the border of Nigeria and west of seasonal Maggia River. It is an important market town and transport hub and as of the 2012 census had a population of 63,169.<ref name="city" /> The town is the historic centre of the small pre-colonial Hausa state of Konni. The name comes from the Hausa for "''Walled Town of Konni''", and many Hausa towns (such as Zinder) designate the old citadel neighbourhood the "Birni".<ref>E. P. Stebbing. The Encroaching Sahara: The Threat to the West African Colonies. The Geographical Journal, Vol. 85, No. 6 (Jun. 1935), pp. 506–519 </ref>
Konni is known for its vernacular architecture including traditional granaries and is regarded as a centre for smuggling between Niger and Nigeria.{{cn|date=October 2019}} Birni-N'Konni's contemporary importance rests on the surrounding agricultural lands and its place on the N1 highway, the main east-west highway linking Niger's capital Niamey and the nation's main eastern cities of Maradi and Zinder. It also sits astride one of several main routes between the Hausa populated territories of southern Niger and northern Nigeria, with the Nigerian transport and trade centre of Illela, Sokoto State just 18 km to the south.
The town was also the site of a major massacre on 8 May 1899 when the French Voulet–Chanoine Mission attacked the region.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gentil |first=Émile |authorlink=Émile Gentil |year=1971 |title=La chute de l'empire de Rabah |publisher=Hachette }} *{{cite news |last=Guyotat |first=Régis |title=La colonne infernale de Voulet-Chanoine |language=French |newspaper=Le Monde |date=26 September 1999 |url=http://www.ldh-toulon.net/article.php3?id_article=399 |access-date=22 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513062050/http://www.ldh-toulon.net/article.php3?id_article=399 |archive-date=13 May 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} </ref> On 27 October 2020, an American citizen was kidnapped in the area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Paquette|first=Danielle|date=27 October 2020|title=U.S. citizen kidnapped in West African nation of Niger, officials say|work=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/us-citizen-kidnapped-niger/2020/10/27/addf514a-1840-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html}}</ref> No group claimed responsibility for the abduction.<ref name=":0" /> He was freed on 31 October.<ref>[https://ne.usembassy.gov/pr-11092020/ U.S. Embassy in Niger]</ref>
==Climate== {{Weather box | width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Birni-N'Konni (1961–1990) | Jan avg record high C = 36.0 | Feb avg record high C = 39.5 | Mar avg record high C = 42.0 | Apr avg record high C = 43.8 | May avg record high C = 43.6 | Jun avg record high C = 41.5 | Jul avg record high C = 38.2 | Aug avg record high C = 36.3 | Sep avg record high C = 38.5 | Oct avg record high C = 39.8 | Nov avg record high C = 38.5 | Dec avg record high C = 36.5 | year avg record high C = | Jan high C = 29.7 | Feb high C = 33.5 | Mar high C = 36.8 | Apr high C = 40.0 | May high C = 40.2 | Jun high C = 38.8 | Jul high C = 35.8 | Aug high C = 34.6 | Sep high C = 36.2 | Oct high C = 37.3 | Nov high C = 34.8 | Dec high C = 31.1 | year high C = 35.7 | Jan mean C = 23.6 | Feb mean C = 26.5 | Mar mean C = 30.1 | Apr mean C = 33.1 | May mean C = 33.7 | Jun mean C = 31.6 | Jul mean C = 29.0 | Aug mean C = 27.8 | Sep mean C = 29.0 | Oct mean C = 29.8 | Nov mean C = 27.2 | Dec mean C = 24.4 | year mean C = 28.8 | Jan low C = 15.7 | Feb low C = 18.0 | Mar low C = 21.7 | Apr low C = 25.2 | May low C = 26.9 | Jun low C = 25.6 | Jul low C = 23.8 | Aug low C = 22.8 | Sep low C = 23.1 | Oct low C = 21.9 | Nov low C = 18.8 | Dec low C = 16.3 | year low C = 21.6 | Jan avg record low C = 11.8 | Feb avg record low C = 13.5 | Mar avg record low C = 16.6 | Apr avg record low C = 20.2 | May avg record low C = 21.6 | Jun avg record low C = 20.3 | Jul avg record low C = 19.7 | Aug avg record low C = 19.7 | Sep avg record low C = 20.1 | Oct avg record low C = 17.8 | Nov avg record low C = 14.6 | Dec avg record low C = 12.4 | year avg record low C = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 0.0 | Feb precipitation mm = 0.0 | Mar precipitation mm = 0.5 | Apr precipitation mm = 4.1 | May precipitation mm = 32.7 | Jun precipitation mm = 68.3 | Jul precipitation mm = 128.9 | Aug precipitation mm = 158.1 | Sep precipitation mm = 76.0 | Oct precipitation mm = 9.4 | Nov precipitation mm = 0.0 | Dec precipitation mm = 0.0 | year precipitation mm = 477.8 | Jan sun = 285.2 | Feb sun = 266.0 | Mar sun = 275.9 | Apr sun = 264.0 | May sun = 291.4 | Jun sun = 282.0 | Jul sun = 263.5 | Aug sun = 244.9 | Sep sun = 264.0 | Oct sun = 291.4 | Nov sun = 291.0 | Dec sun = 288.3 | year sun = 3321.5 | Jand sun = 9.2 | Febd sun = 9.5 | Mard sun = 8.9 | Aprd sun = 8.8 | Mayd sun = 9.4 | Jund sun = 9.4 | Juld sun = 8.5 | Augd sun = 7.9 | Sepd sun = 8.8 | Octd sun = 9.4 | Novd sun = 9.7 | Decd sun = 9.3 | yeard sun = 9.1 | source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/NG/61075.TXT |title = Station Name: BIRNI N'KONNI |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |format = TXT |access-date = 24 August 2024}}</ref> }}
==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == *[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/NG/06/Birnin_Konni.html Birnin Konni, Niger Page]. ''Falling Rain.com'' == Bibliography == * Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997) {{ISBN|0-8108-3136-8}} * Finn Fuglestad. A History of Niger: 1850–1960. Cambridge University Press (1983) {{ISBN|0-521-25268-7}} * Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt UK/ Globe Pequot Press USA (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-84162-152-4}}
{{Communes of Niger}}
{{Authority control}} Category:Communes of Niger