Editing Niger Armed Forces (section)

===Niger Army===
The Niger Army, which includes 33,000 personnel as of 2023, is the land component of Niger's armed forces.{{Sfn|IISS|2023|p=468}} Niger's special forces consists of two special operations companies and 9 intervention commando battalions.{{Sfn|IISS|2023|p=468}} Niger Army's manoeuvre forces include 14 combined arms infantry battalions and a single amphibious riverine company.{{Sfn|IISS|2023|p=468}} The Army also has one engineer company, one logistics group and one air defence company.{{Sfn|IISS|2023|p=468}}

Each of the combined arms battalions comprises a logistics and engineering or ''génie'' company, a fire fighter company, an infantry company, be it airborne or land, an armoured squadron and an artillery company.

In 2006, the following combined arms battalions existed in the Niger Army: 12th, 13th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 32nd, 33rd, 42nd, 43rd, 52nd, 53rd, 62nd, 63rd, 72nd and 73rd.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://www.defense.gouv.ne/uploads/documents/TOMEIIITEXTESPORTANTSURLESFORCESARMEESNIGERIENNES.pdf |title=TOME III : FORCES ARMEES NIGERIENNES |pages=8–9 |language=fr |access-date=2023-08-04 |archive-date=2023-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728214642/https://www.defense.gouv.ne/uploads/documents/TOMEIIITEXTESPORTANTSURLESFORCESARMEESNIGERIENNES.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, there was the Artillery Battalion of the Niger Armed Forces.<ref name=":1" />

The Army is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the Army in Niamey through appointed commandeers of each of the nine "Defense Zones", which largely overlap each of the civilian [[Regions of Niger]].<ref name="actuniger.com" /><ref name="nigerdiaspora.info" /><ref name=":0" />

==== History ====

The Niger Army was created on 28 July 1960 by decree. At the time, the National Police was a subsection of the military. Initially, units of the army were created from three companies of the [[French Colonial Forces]] made of Nigérien soldiers officered by Frenchmen who agreed to take joint French-Nigerien citizenship. In 1960, there were only ten African officers in the Nigérien army, all of low ranks. As Nigérien officers gradually assumed command roles, President [[Hamani Diori]] signed legislation to end the employment of expatriate military officers in 1965. However, French military personnel remained in Niger both to serve in the Niger Army and in the ''4<sup>e</sup> Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer'' ([[Troupes de marine|Troupes de Marine]]) with bases at [[Niamey]], [[Zinder]], [[Bilaro]] and [[Agadez]].<ref>[http://www.troupesdemarine.org/traditions/unites/histo/hs000174.htm 4e Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317115242/http://www.troupesdemarine.org/traditions/unites/histo/hs000174.htm |date=2016-03-17 }}: the 4th RIAOM was dissolved after leaving Niger.</ref> In the late 1970s, a smaller French force returned again to Niger. After the 1974 military coup, all French military personnel were evacuated although a smaller French force returned in the late 1970s.

In 1970, the army was reorganised and divided into four Infantry battalions, one paratroop company, one light armored company, a camel corps, and a number of support units. It was reorganized in 2003 to create the [[Niger Air Force]] as a distinct service branch.

==== Training ====
Basic training is carried out at Niamey at the [[Tondibiah]] base and at Agadez. Other special training centers include the National Officers Training School (French: ''École de Formation des Forces Armées Nigériennes'' or  EFOFAN) and The Paramedical Personnel Training School (EPPAN) both based at the [[Tondibiah]] base.<ref>[http://www.lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8013:forces-armees-nigeriennes-fan--ceremonie-de-sortie-de-25-stagiaires-de-la-6eme-promotion-dan-kassaoua&catid=34:actualites&Itemid=53 Forces Armées Nigériennes (FAN) : cérémonie de sortie de 25 stagiaires de la 6ème promotion Dan Kassaoua] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322211335/http://www.lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8013%3Aforces-armees-nigeriennes-fan--ceremonie-de-sortie-de-25-stagiaires-de-la-6eme-promotion-dan-kassaoua&catid=34%3Aactualites&Itemid=53 |date=2012-03-22 }}. Laouali Souleymane, le Sahel (Niamey) 2011-08-02</ref><ref>[http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/actions-france_830/defense-securite_9035/cooperation-militaire-defense_9037/revue-freres-armes_12582/f.a.-no250-dossier-envr_14896/f.a.no250-dossier-envr_39536.html?artsuite=14 F.A.n°250 : dossier ENVR Niger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121133842/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/actions-france_830/defense-securite_9035/cooperation-militaire-defense_9037/revue-freres-armes_12582/f.a.-no250-dossier-envr_14896/f.a.no250-dossier-envr_39536.html?artsuite=14 |date=2007-11-21 }}. Seminaire ENVR 2006, Point de Situation: Quand l'Histoire Nous Parle d'ENVR Localisation des ENVRs dans le Monde. Ministère des affaires étrangères et européennes, France (2008)</ref> In addition to training in Niger, army officers also train in France at the [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr]], in Morocco at the [[Académie Royale Militaire de Meknès (ARM)|Royal Military Academy of Meknès]], in Algeria and the US. With the growing cross-border threats of terrorism in West Africa, the Niger Army has benefited from training exercises with France and the U.S. The Niger Army has participated in the U.S. led Flintlock Exercise which it hosted in 2014.<ref name="africom1">[http://www.africom.mil/what-we-do/exercises/flintlock U.S. Africa Command Flintlock Exercise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727105840/http://www.africom.mil/what-we-do/exercises/flintlock |date=2014-07-27 }}. Yearly Flinklock Exercise in Niger in 2014 (last retrieved on July 7/26/2014)</ref>

==== Equipment ====
The army of Niger is poorly equipped with armored vehicles and tanks. With the exception of two armored vehicles purchased from China in 2009, most armoured vehicles are at least 20 years old.<ref name="traderegistry">[http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php Army trade registry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |date=2010-04-14 }}. Last accessed in July 2014</ref> The army is however well-stocked with 4x4 [[Toyota Land Cruiser (J70)|Toyota Land Cruiser]]s mounted with various caliber machine guns. Logistically, fuel and water transportation tanks, and ambulances have been recently improved to help in long-distance patrol missions as well as with general increased logistic capacity of the army.<ref name="jeuneafrik">[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20140325171053/ Cooperation militaire Niger-US] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011214514/https://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20140325171053/ |date=2022-10-11 }}. Last accessed on July 15, 2014.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lesahel.org/index.php/component/k2/item/5241-coop%C3%A9ration-militaire-niger-royaume-darabie-saoudite--38-camions-et-dimportants-mat%C3%A9riels-militaires-au-profit-des-forces-arm%C3%A9es-nig%C3%A9riennes |title=Coopération militaire Niger/Royaume d'Arabie Saoudite : 38 camions et d'importants matériels militaires au profit des Forces Armées Nigériennes |trans-title=Military Cooperation Niger / Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 38 trucks and important military equipment for the benefit of the Nigerian Armed Forces |access-date=2014-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729212934/http://lesahel.org/index.php/component/k2/item/5241-coop%C3%A9ration-militaire-niger-royaume-darabie-saoudite--38-camions-et-dimportants-mat%C3%A9riels-militaires-au-profit-des-forces-arm%C3%A9es-nig%C3%A9riennes |archive-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 [[File:Flag of niger armed forces obv.jpg|thumb|{{nowrap|Flag of the Niger Armed Forces{{tsp}}{{#tag:ref |The reverse side of the Flag of the Niger Armed Force:<br />[[File:Flag of niger armed forces rev.jpg|100px|left]]{{Clear}} |group="nb"}}<!--(end nowrap:)-->}}]]