Ordre du Mérite Saharien
The medal of the officer
Type	Order with three degrees: Commandeur Officier Chevalier
Awarded for	Service in the development of the Saharan regions
Presented by	France
Status	Deprecated 3 December 1963 by the Ordre National du Mérite
Established	4 April 1958
Total 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 Agadez Cross, a traditional emblem of the Tuareg clans inhabiting the area of the former Sultanate of Agadez in 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The order was deprecated by decree on 3 December 1963, and superseded by the Ordre National du Mérite.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	Officer	Commander

References

• Marc Champenois (9 August 2008). "Ordre du mérite Saharien". Les décorations Francaises (in French). Retrieved 2009-02-06.
• Jean Hass. "Ordre du mérite Saharien 1958-1963". Symboles et Traditions. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2009-02-06.