Military & Security

Military - note

The Nigerien military is tasked with the defense of the nation’s territory, primarily concentrating on internal security and border operations. Active terrorist factions such as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and the al-Qaida-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) operate in western Niger and neighboring regions of Burkina Faso and Mali. Additionally, the southeastern part of Niger faces threats from Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, which are based in Nigeria. Furthermore, certain areas of Niger are impacted by communal, criminal, and vigilante violence spilling over from Nigeria. Following the coup in 2023, several former ethnic separatist rebels have resumed armed actions in support of the ousted President BAZOUM.

The military has been influential in Niger's internal politics since its formation in 1960-61. Before taking control in 2023, it had made attempts to seize power in 1974, 1996, 1999, 2010, and 2021, and governed the nation for a significant portion of the time prior to 1999 (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Comprises the Army, Nigerien Air Force, and Niger Gendarmerie.

Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Includes the Niger National Guard and National Police (2025).

Military service age and obligation

The legal minimum age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service for unmarried individuals is 18 years; the duration of service is 24 months (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The inventory of the FAN consists mainly of older, predominantly Soviet-era weaponry and equipment, alongside a limited number of more contemporary arms, including drones, air defense systems, and armored vehicles. Suppliers over the last decade have included China, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

The estimated strength of the active Armed Forces, including the Gendarmerie, is around 50,000, with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 in the National Guard (2025).