Rice is one of the most important crops in the world. Salinity is a major problem limiting rice production in West Africa and the most serious abiotic constraint in Niger. It causes drastic yield losses and hence loss of income for rice farmers. Improvement of salt stress tolerance in rice varieties would increase grain yield of rice under slight salt-stress condition, and may also extend rice growing to regions with moderate salt content in soils. Many studies have been conducted in salt affected soils and rice genetic improvement in such hostile environment. The objective of this study was to provide a mini-review in genetic improvement of rice for salt tolerance under the following sections (1) characteristics of salt affected soils (2) scope of salt problem and the effect on plant growth (3) actors affecting salt tolerance of rice (4) screening methodologies for salt tolerance in rice (5) genetics of salt tolerance in rice (6) breeding methodology for tolerance to salinity in rice.