Ordre du Mérite Saharien

Ordre du Mérite saharien
160px The medal of the officer
Awarded by France
Type	Order with three degrees: Commandeur Officier Chevalier
Awarded for	Service in the development of the Saharan regions
Status	Deprecated 3 December 1963 by the Ordre National du Mérite
Statistics
Established	4 April 1958
Distinct recipients	764: Cdr. 42, Off. 123, Chev. 602
Precedence
Next (higher)	Médaille militaire
Equivalent	Ordre National du Mérite
Next (lower)	Croix de guerre

The Ordre du Mérite saharien (Order of Saharan Merit) was established in 1958 as a reward for social, scientific, economic or administrative services rendered by French or foreign persons who participated in the development of Saharan regions. The medal is fashioned in the form of the Agades cross, a traditional emblem of the Tuareg clans of the Sultanate of Agadez, surrounding modern Agadez, Niger.

The order was deprecated by decree on 3 December 1963, and superseded by the Ordre National du Mérite. Extant members of the order are permitted to wear their original decorations.

Classes

The Order has three classes:

• Commandeur (Commander)
• Officier (Officer)
• Chevalier (Knight)

Ribbon bars
Knight	100px Officer	100px Commander