# Madama

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madama
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{{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](/source/Niger).  Little more than an army post, the settlement serves as a frontier station controlling travel between Niger and [Libya](/source/Libya). It is also the site of a former [French colonial](/source/French_colonial_empire) fort, built in 1931. 
The fort is now surrounded by barbed wire and a field of [landmines](/source/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](/source/Operation_Barkhane). The French Army built a [forward operating base](/source/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](/source/3rd_Marine_Infantry_Parachute_Regiment)) and Nigerien soldiers talk over the old fort Madama, November 2014.]]

=== Madama Airfield ===
Aerodrome Madama consists of a [laterite](/source/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](/source/List_of_French_Army_regiments) and the [19th Engineer Regiment](/source/List_of_French_Army_regiments) 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](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Madama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madama) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madama?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.