This is a List of Colonial Heads of Niger for the period of French Colonial rule. While French control of some of the areas of modern Niger began in the 1890s, a formal Military Territory of Zinder was formed on 23 July 1900. Full independence from France was declared on 10 November 1960 with the formation of the Nigerien First Republic.
| Term | Serving | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 July 1900 | French military territory declared ruling what is modern southern Niger: only nominal rule east of Zinder or north of Tanout | |
| 1900 | "Zinder Military Territory": Includes parts of modern northeast Mali and Northern Chad | |
| 23 July 1900 to 1901 | Étienne Péroz, Commandant | |
| 1903 | "Zinder Military Territory": Capitol moved from Sorbo-Haoussa to Niamey | |
| 1902 to 1903 | Henri Gouraud, Commandant | |
| Oct 1904 to ? | ? Noël, Commandant | |
| Joseph Gaudérique Aymerich, Commandant | ||
| Lt. Colonel Lamolle,[1] Commandant | ||
| 22 June 1910 | Niger Military Territory Includes parts of modern northeast Mali and Northern Chad | |
| 1911 | Capitol moved from Niamey to Zinder | |
| ? | Lt. Colonel Cristofari, Commandant | |
| ? to 1911 | Paul Célestin Marie Joseph Venel, Commandant | |
| 21 June 1911 | Cercle of Gao ceded to French Sudan | |
| 27 Sept 1911 to 1912 | ? Hocquart, Commandant | |
| 1912 to 1913 | Charles Camille Thierry de Maugras, Commandant | |
| 4 Dec 1913 to 1915 | Paul Célestin Marie Joseph Venel, Commandant | |
| 15 Nov 1915 to Jan 1918 | Charles Henri Mourin, Commandant | |
| 24 Jan 1918 to 1919 | Marie Joseph Félix Méchet, Commandant | |
| Aug 1919 to 1920 | Claude Paul Émile Lefebvre, Commandant | |
| 1920 | Maurice Gustave Fernand Renauld, Commandant | |
| 5 Jul 1920 to 1921 | Lucien Émile Rueff, Commandant | |
| 1921 to 26 Dec 1922 | Jules Brévié, Commandant | |
| 13 October 1922 | Colony of Niger most of southern and western areas placed under civilian rule. Lieutenant governor reports to Governor General of French West Africa | |
| 1926 | Capitol moved from Zinder to Niamey | |
| 26 Dec 1922 to 9 Oct 1929 | Jules Brévié, Lieutenant governor | |
| 23 Mar 1923 to Sep 1925 | Léonce Jore, Lieutenant governor (acting) | |
| 9 Oct 1929 to 21 Nov 1929 | Jean Baptiste Robert Fayout, Lieutenant governor (acting) | |
| 1930 | Tibesti Cercle ceded to Chad Colony | |
| 21 Nov 1929 to 30 Oct 1930 | Alphonse Choteau, Lieutenant governor | |
| 30 Oct 1930 to 9 Sep 1931 | Louis Placide Blacher, Lieutenant governors | |
| 1932 | Cercles of Dori and Fada N'gourma ceded to Niger Colony | |
| 9 Sep 1931 to 25 May 1933 | Théophile Antoine Pascal Tellier, Lieutenant governor | |
| 25 May 1933 to May 1934 | Maurice Bourgine, Lieutenant governors | |
| May 1934 to 16 Mar 1935 | Léon Charles Alphonse Pêtre, Lieutenant governor | |
| 16 Mar 1935 to 29 Apr 1938 | Joseph Court, Lieutenant governor | |
| 29 Apr 1938 to 18 Feb 1939 | Jean-Baptiste Victor Chazelas, Lieutenant governor (acting) | |
| 18 Feb 1939 to 7 Nov 1940 | Jean Rapenne, Lieutenant governor | |
| 7 Nov 1940 to 8 Dec 1940 | Léon Solomiac, Lieutenant governor (acting) | |
| 8 Dec 1940 to 4 Mar 1942 | Maurice Falvy, Lieutenant governor | |
| 31 December 1946 | Military Territories of N'Guigmi and Agadez ceded to Niger Colony | |
| 1947 | Cercles of Dori and Fada N'Gourma ceded to French Upper Volta Colony | |
| 4 Mar 1942 to May 1954 | Jean-François Toby, Lieutenant governor: Acting to Dec 1942 | |
| 11 Feb 1952 to 23 Feb 1953 | Fernand Georges Gaston Casimir, Lieutenant governor (acting) | |
| 1956 | Military Territory of Bilma ceded to Niger Colony | |
| 21 Dec 1954 to 3 Nov 1956 | Jean Ramadier, Lieutenant governor | |
| 3 Nov 1956 to 29 Jan 1958 | Paul Bordier, Lieutenant governor | |
| 29 Jan 1958 to 25 Aug 1958 | Louis Félix Rollet, Lieutenant governor (acting) | |
| December 1959 | Lieutenant Governor becomes High Commissioner of Niger: Head of State | |
| 25 Aug 1958 to 10 Nov 1960 | Jean Colombani, High commissioner |