 Following the move to decentralize government powers in the 1990s, most of the duties of the local appointed Prefect—who was chosen and answered to the Ministry—was taken over by the Communes of Niger, as well as the Departments and Regions.The Ministry of Interior still appoints prefects, but they play a much more limited role, as local representatives of national government.In some largely uninhabited areas, especially those in the Sahara Desert, the Interior Ministry still appoints heads of "Postes Administratif" (Administrative Posts).