Country Niger | Part of Ministry of Interior | |
Active As Republican Guard: 1963–1997
As Forces Nationales d'Intervention et Securite: 1997–2011
As National Guard: 2011-Present Role Paramilitary forces of Niger Size 3,200 end strength (FY2005) Current
commander Chef d'Escadron Oumarou Tawayé
Superior Commander, National Guard | ||
Formerly known as the Forces Nationales d’Intervention et de Securité (1997-2011) and Garde Republicaine (1963-1997), the Garde Nationale du Niger is a paramilitary corps of the Armed Forces of Niger under the control of the Ministry of Interior. It is headed by the superior commander of the national guard.
Contents
History
The National Guard was first created in 1963 as the Republican Guard under the presidency of President Diori Hamani. Due to its loyalty to President Hamani, following the 1974 coup by President Seyni Kountche, it was restructured to ensure loyalty to Seyni Kountche. During those years, the guard was primarily tasked of protecting the president and was made up of elite soldiers trained by Moroccan officers. After the 1995 peace agreements between the government of Niger and the Touareg rebel groups, it was restructured and renamed to "Forces Nationales d'Interventions and Securite (FNIS)". Ex-rebel members were reinserted into this body as per the terms of the peace agreements. Previously under the authority of Ministry of Defense, the national guard was transferred under the authority of the Ministry of Interior in 2003. Faithful to their tradition, the National Guard remained loyal to President Tandja Mamadou in his attempt to prolong his presidency beyond the constitutional limits of his term. Later, during the 2010 military coup, the National Guard unsuccessfully defended President Tandja Mamadou. In 2010 and 2011, several government decrees and ordonances proceeded to its reorganization and renaming to the National Guard of Niger.
Mission
The mission of the national guard of Niger is defined by ordonnance n°201-61 of October 7, 2010 and consists of: