9 The year 2012 saw the implementation of major reforms aimed at improving governance within the National Armed Forces (FAN) to meet the nation’s expectations. In a constraining sub-regional and national security context, many achievements have been registered in the area of military governance. They include notably structural reorganization, recruitment and training, improvement of professionalism and operational capacity, improvement of the living conditions of the staff, equipment, improvement of internal and external communication, intensification of the Army-Nation relationship. To that end, the following activities were carried out: - restructuring of the National Armed Forces; - takeover of staff by the command; - review of the method of recruitment and initial training of recruits of the contingent, non-commissioned officers and active officers; - development and implementation of a programme for enhancing military civic commitment and ethics; - development and implementation of a retraining and upgrading programme on command requirements; - drafting of texts on the creation, organization, attributions and functioning of frameworks for consultation within the FAN; - upgrading the former military camps and pursuing the construction of new camps; - relocation of some military units; - acquisition of new equipment for the FAN; - supplying uniforms to the entire military personnel; - creation of an anti-terrorist group to protect the territory’s northern border; - deployment of troops in Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Darfur (Sudan) to meet our international commitments, notably in terms of our contribution to Peace-keeping Operations.