Armed Forces of Senegal

The Armed Forces of Senegal (

Military noninterference in political affairs has contributed to Senegal's stability since independence. Senegal has participated in many international and regional peacekeeping missions. Most recently, in 2000, Senegal sent a battalion to the

As one of the largest troop contributors in Africa (per capita) to African Union missions, United Nations missions, and other regional security organizations, the Senegalese military has proven itself to be one of the most effective and reliable militaries on the African continent. This is remarkable given that Senegal is poorer than the average Sub-Saharan African country. Most importantly, the army of Senegal is multi-ethnic, not coup-proofed, and has never attempted a coup d'état, which is a rarity in Africa. Harmonious Senegalese civil-military relations since independence have permitted the creation of an effective 'military enclave' that is a capable institution not a threat to the political leadership in Dakar.[1]

Summary of past military actions

• In October 1980 and August 1981, the Senegalese military was invited into
  coup attempt.^[2]
• In August 1989, Senegalese-Gambian military cooperation ceased with the dissolution of the
  Senegambian Confederation
  .
• In 1990, 500 Senegalese troops were deployed to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Gulf War. 92 of them were killed after the end of the conflict in a plane crash on 21 March 1991.
• In 1992 1,500 men were sent to the
  ECOMOG peacekeeping group in Liberia
  .
• In 1994, a battalion-sized force was sent to Rwanda to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission there.
• Senegal intervened in the
  Guinea-Bissau civil war in 1998 at the request of former President Vieira.^[3]
• A Senegalese contingent deployed on a peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic in 1997.
• In 2017, Senegal deployed troops into the Gambia to support newly elected President Adama Barrow, an action legally justified by UN resolution 2337.

The Army (Armée de Terre) is the leading force within the Senegalese armed forces and provides the chief of staff and the Inspecteur général des forces armées.

Army

Since independence from France in 1960, the army has gone through a large number of reorganisations. The army's heritage includes the

The Army currently consists of two divisions, the Operations Division and the Logistic Division. The IISS estimated in 2012 that the Army had a strength of 11,900 soldiers, three armoured battalions the 22nd, 24th, and 25th (at Bignona) and the 26th Bataillon de reconnaissance et d'Appui at Kolda; there are six infantry battalions numbered 1st to 6th.^[5] 3rd Battalion may have been at Kaolack with 4th at Tambacounda at one point.^[6]

Also reported is the 12th Battalion of the 2nd Military Zone at

The Gendarmerie is a military force which provides policing and security. It includes a Territorial Gendarmerie with general policing duties, and a Mobile Gendarmerie for special tasks and serious public disorder.

The Senegalese gendarmerie evolved out of a French colonial Spahi detachment sent to Senegal in 1845. This detachment (which became today's Red Guard of Senegal) was the cadre around which the "Colonial Gendarmerie" was formed. On independence this became the National Gendarmerie.

The commander is General Abdoulaye Fall (a different person from the current Armed Forces Chief of Staff of the same name), whose rank is divisional general, and whose full job title is "High Commander of the Gendarmerie and Director of Military Justice".

Navy

The navy (marine), also known as the Armée de mer, is of small size and is commanded by a

The Navy is divided into three branches known as "groupings":[11]

• The Operational Naval Grouping (Groupement Naval Opérationnel), which is divided into three flotillas and one group:
  • The High Seas Patrol Boats (Patrouilleurs de Haute Mer),
  • The Coastal Surveillance Vessels (Bâtiments de Surveillance Côtière),
  • The Fast Coastal Boats (Vedettes Côtières Rapides) and
  • The Transport Group (groupe de transport).
• The Naval Support Grouping (Groupement de Soutien de la Marine) responsible for ports, repairs, training, and logistics.
• The
  Fluvial
  -Maritime Surveillance Grouping.

Air Force

The air force (Armée de l'Air) is orientated towards providing support for ground forces and resembles an army aviation corps. It possesses air-to-air combat aeroplanes, Mil Mi-24 gunship helicopters, as well as transport and reconnaissance aircraft.

Military Areas

At the present time, there are seven military zones:^[12]

• Zone n°1 - Dakar
• Zone n°2 - Saint-Louis
• Zone n°3 - Kaolack
• Zone n°4 - Tambacounda
• Zone n°5 - Ziguinchor
• Zone n°6 - Kolda
• Zone n°7 - Thiès

Each zone comprises a garrison office that caters to military issues and a social service office. The IISS Military Balance listed four zones in 2007.

Equipment

Small arms

Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
Walther PP[13]		.25 ACP	Semi-automatic pistol	Germany
PAMAS G1[13]		9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Italy  France
MAC 50[13]		9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	France
Manurhin MR 73[13]		.357 Magnum	Revolver	France
Submachine guns
MAS-38[14]		7.65×20mm	Submachine gun	France
MAT-49[13]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	France
Rifles
FAMAS[15]		5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	France
M16[15]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States
M4[16]		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States
CAR-15[13]		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States
Taurus T4[17]		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	Brazil
Norinco CQ[18]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	China
Daewoo K1[19]		.223 Remington	Carbine Assault rifle	South Korea	Received 280 K1A rifles in 2003.
Daewoo K2[20][21]		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	South Korea
IWI Tavor[22]		5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	Israel
IWI Tavor X95[23]		5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	Israel
KNT-76[24]		7.62×51mm	Assault rifle	Turkey
Heckler & Koch G3[13]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	West Germany  France	French-made G3s
SIG SG 540[13]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Switzerland
MAS-36[25]		7.5×54mm	Bolt-action rifle	France
MAS-49/56[26]		7.5×54mm	Semi-automatic rifle	France
Sniper rifles
SVD[27]		7.62×54mmR	Sniper rifle Designated marksman rifle	Soviet Union
IWI Galatz[15]		5.56×45mm	Designated marksman rifle	Israel
Machine guns
IWI Negev[15]		5.56×45mm	Light machine gun	Israel
AA-52[13]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	France
Heckler & Koch HK21[13]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	West Germany
M60[28]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	United States
Browning M2[13]		.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7[13]		40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
LRAC F1[29]		89mm	Shoulder-launched missile weapon	France

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
MILAN[30]		Anti-tank missile	France  West Germany		496

Anti-aircraft weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Bofors L/60[31]		Autocannon	Sweden	12	INS
20 mm modèle F2 gun		Autocannon	France	21	INS	Used for air defence.

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Rocket artillery
Bastion-01		Multiple rocket launcher	Ukraine	6[32]	INS
Field artillery
M101		Howitzer	United States	6[31]	INS
M-50		Howitzer	France	6[33]	INS
TRF1		Howitzer	France	8[34]	INS
Mortars
MO-120-RT-61		Towed mortar	France	32	INS

Tank destroyers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
WMA-301		Tank destroyer	China	12[35]	INS

Infantry fighting vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Ratel IFV		Infantry fighting vehicle	South Africa	26[36]	INS

Armored personnel carriers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Panhard M3		Armoured personnel carrier	France	16[33]	INS
M3 half-track		Armored personnel carrier	United States	12[33]	INS
WZ-551		Command post	China	1[35]	INS
EE-11 Urutu		Armored personnel carrier	Brazil	Unknown[37]	INS
RG-31 Nyala		Infantry mobility vehicle	South Africa	Unknown	INS
Dozor-B		Infantry mobility vehicle	Ukraine	6[38]	INS

Reconnaissance

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Panhard AML		Armored car	France	53[33]	INS
Eland-90		Armored car	South Africa	47[39]	INS
RAM MK3		Armored Car	Israel	55[15]	INS

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Casspir		MRAP	South Africa	9[40]	INS
PUMA M26-15		MRAP	South Africa	30[15]	INS
Ejder Yalçın		MRAP	Turkey	25[41]	INS

Utility vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Humvee		Light utility vehicle	United States	23[42]	INS
M151		Utility vehicle	United States	Unknown[43]	INS

Aircraft

Navy^[44]

• 2 Metal Shark patrol ships

• 3 Shaldag MK II patrol ships

• 1 Shaldag MK V patrol ships

Citations