This paper discusses the relationship between the traditional chief in Niger together with the process of decentralization. The democratic process initiated in the early 90s in most of the African countries helped to establish a multi – party system as well as kept good government structures. The initiative could solve the excessive centralization of government powers in African countries. In order to understand the decentralization process in Niger, we should not only refer to the democratic context but also we should understand certain historical facts. Besides, the context of democracy, it should be noted that the claims of the armed rebellion (1989) based on federalism have led to peace agreements, in the October 9, 1994 and April 24, 1995 between the organization of armed resistance (ORA) and the Government of Niger, to adopt decentralization as a form of governance. The option is a full communalisation by changing the townships (sedentary and area nomadic) in commune status. The communes are headed by an elected mayor. The logic is to make these structures as real poles of local development. But in the same way and during a long time at the head of same township there is a leader who administered his people according to traditional mode. This two kind of powerful can create a social conflict if some rules are not defined. I am interested to region of Tahoua, particularly the two urban communes.

This study talks about the crucial question of the function of the mayor in a democratizing society. In the context of decentralized local management of development activities, the Niger authorities had opted in 2004 for a system of decentralization instead of federalism claimed by the Tuareg rebellion. Decentralization involves the election of a mayor who chairs the City Council in order to achieve development actions. In his function, he is both state representative, representative of his political party and vector of local development. This is a source of conflict and may block the normal operation of this territorial level called to create the foundations for its own development.
The analysis was based on a documentary work, interviews with elected mayors and with resource persons at the 3rd and 4th municipal districts of the city of Zinder. The municipal district is a dismemberment of the special status commune which it receives delegation of powers and resources. It is a decentralized administrative structure of the municipality with special status and no legal personality.
It is clear that the City Council is the lowest level in administrative devolution but this function must be understood in order to achieve the planned development activities.