Military Reform – 1997
1997
The monitoring committee for the implementation of the peace accord in Niger met from 3 to 5 September 1997 to discuss issues related to the reintegration of former armed rebels into the Niger’s national army and gendarmerie, into socioeconomic life, disarmament and decentralization.
Agreement was reached on the following (ORIGINAL TEXT):1
First, integration into the Niger armed forces and the problem of ranks. Here are the modalities for entry into the national army: One must be a Niger citizen, be between the ages of 18 and 35, be declared medically fit and be a bachelor without children. Marriage can be contracted only after five statutory years. All married soldiers will be joined by their families only after their training, after which the appropriate administrative formalities will be carried out.
Here are the conditions for admission into the national gendarmerie: One must be a Niger citizen, aged between 20 and 30, and have at least a primary school certificate. One must be declared medically fit, be 1.65m tall and have a clean record. One must be a bachelor without children, and shall not marry within a stipulated period of three years. All married soldiers will be joined by their families only after their training. After the training, candidates will go through the necessary administrative formalities.
First, the form of integration and ranks: In accordance with Item B of Article 17 of the agreement establishing definitive peace between the government of the Republic of Niger and the Organization of the Armed Resistance dated 24th April 1995, appropriate training will be given to all the 250 CAD and TVT fighters of the armed resistance that are to be enlisted into the national army and the national gendarmerie. After the training, a selection will be made and 12 officers, 24 NCOs and 36 other ranks will forthwith be given further training from the selected group. Exceptionally, those selected for officers training, both in the army and the gendarmerie, will not have to pass the entry examination for the military schools or academies. The officers, NCOs and other ranks will be equally shared.
Second, the integration into other state security services — customs, police, republican guard, (environmental protection) — and quota sharing: It has been agreed that the integration of fighters must be terminated before the end of the (seventh) month in line with the 1997 budget. The quotas are as follows: republican guard, 50; customs, 45; national education, 50; and health, 30. Integration of soldiers into other state institutions will be effected at a pro rata basis of 30 per cent for the conventional group and 70 per cent for the army. The integration of the remaining number of soldiers, a total of 255, will be covered by the 1998-99 budget.
Third, Saharan security units: Out of a total of 1,100 demobilized fighters, a first batch of 305 former fighters and 50 youths from the border regions shall be integrated under the 1997-98 budget. The remaining will be integrated during 1998 depending on the availability of funds to the government and with the assistance of financial backers.
Fourth, reintegration into socioeconomic life: In collaboration with some creditors, efforts are being made to determine the chances of employment, the socioeconomic potential of the affected areas and the real needs for the reintegration of demobilized fighters. Africare plans to train 504 former demobilized soldiers according to the following quotas per professional activity: drivers, 96; fitters, 72; [word indistinct], 60; masons, 60; auto mechanics, 48; electricians, 24; welders, 24; metal worker, 24; radio and television technicians, 24; plumbers, 24; artisans, 12; tailors, 38.
Issued in Niamey on 5th September 1997 and signed on the same day by the Front for the Liberation of Tamoust, the Front for the Liberation of Air and Azaouak, MRLN [Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Niger], FSN, CAD, PGT, FCLN, Revolutionary Army for the Liberation of Northern Niger and the People’s Army for the Liberation of the North.
According to a news report, the ex-rebels encamped for several months in their base will be disarmed on 21 October, a month later than planned, and the encampment will end two days later. Then the most delicate phase – the integration of ex-rebel combatants within government structures – will commence. Nearly 200 combatants had already joined the army and were currently under training. In early November (1997), 600 others were expected to join the Saharan security unit, the Republican Guard, the customs service, the forestry department and the police.
The state had promised to integrate others in 1998, but before then there is a need to occupy the demobilized rebels and find work for those who will not become public servants. Several factions of the rebellion, tired of the slow pace of the peace implementation process, had taken up arms again. The insecurity which still reigned in the region, albeit residual, did not augur well for foreign investment. To reintegrate the rebels into the society, the government was appealing for development projects.2