The Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization of the Government of Niger is the government authority responsible for policing, internal security and the ongoing process of decentralization of authority to the Regions, Departments, and Communes of Niger. The National Police and National Guard of Niger report to the Interior Minister. Unlike the Interior ministry in some nations, courts, Justice, and prosecution are handled by the Ministry of Justice of Niger. The Civil Defense Directorate, which coordinates disaster, fire, and civil defense responses nationwide reports to the Ministry of the Interior.[1] The Ministry of the Interior is headed by the Minister of State for the Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization, a political appointment who sits in the Council of Ministers of Niger, reporting directly to the President of Niger.