 The process had begun with the passage of a law aimed at the privatisation of telecommunications ("Ordonnance N°96-031 du 11 juin 1996"), and was part of a larger process of internationally led privatisation of Niger's once large Parastatal sector.SONITEL had the government of Niger as a majority share holder.Following the 1999 Constitution of the Fifth Republic of Niger, SONITEL was to be privatised, and in 2001, after an unsuccessful round of offerings, the majority of the companies shares were sold.