Editing Niger Armed Forces (section)

==== 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.