{{Short description|Military outpost in Niger}} {{About||the Palestinian village|Madama, Nablus|the play|Madama Butterfly}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2014}}
thumb|upright|Aerial view of the fort of Madama, November 2014 '''Madama''' is a border settlement on the northeast frontier of Niger. Little more than an army post, the settlement serves as a frontier station controlling travel between Niger and Libya. It is also the site of a former French colonial fort, built in 1931. The fort is now surrounded by barbed wire and a field of landmines.<ref>{{cite web|title=Demande de prolongation de délai au titre de l'article 5 de la Convention sur l'interdiction de l'emploi, du stockage, de la production et du transfert des mines antipersonnel et sur leur destruction|url=http://www.apminebanconvention.org/fileadmin/APMBC/clearing-mined-areas/art5_extensions/Niger-Article-5-request-received-1July2013-fr.pdf|website=AP Mine Ban Convention|accessdate=6 January 2015}}</ref> thumb|View on Fort Madama from the North, June 2017
== Military use today == The army of Niger maintains a garrison of a hundred soldiers, depending on the 24th Interarmes Battalion from Dirkou.
On October 23, 2014, the French government announced plans to base helicopters and 50 French troops here, under the Operation Barkhane. The French Army built a forward operating base.<ref>{{cite web|title=France's forces build FOB Madama in Northern Niger to assist with Operation Barkhane in Mali|url=http://asian-defence-news.blogspot.fr/2014/12/frances-forces-build-fob-madama-in.html|website=Asian Defense News|date=19 December 2014|publisher=19 December 2014|accessdate=6 January 2015}}</ref> The French military is about 200 to 250 soldiers on January 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=France ready to strike extremists on Libya border|url=http://asian-defence-news.blogspot.fr/2015/01/france-ready-to-strike-extremists-on.html|website=Asian Defense News|date=6 January 2015|publisher=6 January 2015|accessdate=6 January 2015}}</ref>
The operational base of Madama served as a command post for a military operation zone control for the French, Niger and Chad armies from 20 to 27 December 2014. [[File:Af Ner 125 - Fort de Madama.jpg|thumb|French paratroopers (3rd RPIMa) and Nigerien soldiers talk over the old fort Madama, November 2014.]]
=== Madama Airfield === Aerodrome Madama consists of a laterite track ({{coord|21|57|0.10|N|13|39|2.13|E}}) with a length of {{convert|1,300|m}}. The work of the 25th Air Engineer Regiment and the 19th Engineer Regiment allowed the reconstruction of the runway from November 2014; will be extended to a length of {{convert|1,800|m}}. Aviation facilities will be added: a ramp and two parking areas for aircraft and helicopter pads.<ref>{{cite web|title=Le fort de Madama dans l'objectif de Thomas Goisque... Sublime|url=http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2014/11/21/le-fort-de-madama-dans-l-objectif-de-thomas-goisque-sublime-12966.html|website=Lignes de Défense|publisher=21 Novembre 2014|accessdate=6 January 2015}}</ref> Tactical transport aircraft can land there since December 2014. In 2017, the A400M transport aircraft made its first operational mission to Niger after landing at Madama.<ref name="Martin 2018">{{cite web | last=Martin | first=Guy | title=French A400M flies first operational mission to Niger | website=defenceWeb | date=2018-03-06 | url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49484 | access-date=2018-03-06}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}} * [http://hausa.irib.ir/labarai/babban-labari/item/26484-nijar-faransa-za-ta-kafa-wata-sabuwar-sansanin-soja-a-yankin-arewa-maso-gabacin-nijar Nijar: Faransa za ta kafa wata sabuwar sansanin soja a yankin arewa maso gabacin Nijar]
{{Authority control}} {{Coord|21.945168|13.647910|display=title}}
Category:Populated places in Niger Category:Military installations of France in other countries Category:Forts Category:Military installations established in 1931