Mozambique Defence Armed Forces
Mozambique Defence Armed Forces | |
---|---|
Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique | |
Founded | 1975 |
Current form | August 1994 |
Service branches | Army Naval Command RENAMO insurgency (2013–2019) Insurgency in Cabo Delgado |
Ranks | Military ranks of Mozambique |
The Mozambique Defence Armed Forces (
The FADM were formed in mid August 1994, by the integration of the Forças Armadas de Moçambique/FPLM with the military wing of RENAMO, following the end of the civil war.
History
Coelho et al write: "Independence in June 1975 was preceded by a nine-month transition period in which
Under the previous FAM, in 1982, ten provincial semi-autonomous military commands were created; the provincial commanders also acted as second in commands of the provincial government. Coelho et al write:[6]
"the 1st Brigade and the 6th Tank Brigade were located in Maputo; the 2nd Brigade was in Mapai and, together with 8th Brigade based in Chokwe, assured protection of the south; the 3rd Brigade was in Chimoio and the 5th in Beira; the 4th Brigade was placed in Tete, and the 7th in Cuamba, assuring a military presence in Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Zambezia and Nampula, and particularly in the Nacala corridor.."
Throughout the 1980s the FRELIMO government and its armed forces, the Forças Armadas de Moçambique/FPLM, fought the rebel
The Mozambique Defence Armed Forces were formed in mid-August 1994 after peace negotiations in Rome had produced the General Peace Agreement (GPA, AGP in Portuguese). The new armed forces were formed by integrating those soldiers of the former government Forças Armadas de Moçambique/FPLM and those among the RENAMO rebels who wished to stay in uniform.[7] They were formed through a commission, the Comissão Conjunta para a Formação das Forças Armadas de Defesa e Segurança de Moçambique (CCFADM), chaired by the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ).[8]
Two generals were appointed to lead the new forces, one from FRELIMO, Lieutenant General Lagos Lidimo, who was named Chief of the Defence Force and Major General Mateus Ngonhamo from RENAMO as Vice-Chief of the Defence Force. The former Chief of the Army of the Forças Armadas de Moçambique, Lieutenant General Antonio Hama Thai, was retired.[citation needed]
The first three infantry battalions were stationed at Chokwe, Cuamba, and Quelimane.[9]
On 20 March 2008, Reuters reported that President Guebuza had dismissed the Chief and Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General Lagos Lidimo (FRELIMO) and Lieutenant General Mateus Ngonhamo (RENAMO), replacing them with Brigadier General Paulino Macaringue as Chief of Defence Force and Major General Olímpio Cambora as Vice-Chief of Defence Force.[10][11]
In April 2010 it was announced that "the
Mozambique has also been involved in many peacekeeping operations in Burundi (232 personnel),[16] Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor and Sudan. They have also actively participated in joint military operations such Blue Hungwe in Zimbabwe in 1997 and Blue Crane in South Africa in 1999.[17]
Land Forces
The Mozambican Army was formed in 1976 from three conventional battalions, two of which were trained in Tanzania and a third of which was trained in Zambia.[18] Army officer candidates were initially trained in Maputo by Chinese military instructors.[18] In March 1977, following Mozambique's Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union, officer candidates became eligible for training in various Warsaw Pact member states.[18] The Soviet military mission in Mozambique assisted in raising a new army composed of five infantry brigades and an armored brigade.[18] At the height of the civil war, this was gradually increased to eight infantry brigades, an armored brigade, and a counter-insurgency brigade[18] modeled after the Zimbabwean 5th Brigade.[19]
The preexisting FAM was abolished after the end of the civil war under the auspices of the Joint Commission for the Formation of the Mozambican Defence Force (CCFADM), which included advisers from Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom.[18] The CCFADM recommended that former army personnel and an equal number of demobilised RENAMO insurgents be integrated into a single force numbering about 30,000.[20] Due to logistics problems and budgetary constraints, however, the army only numbered about 12,195 in 1995.[18] Force levels rarely fluctuated between 1995 and the mid-2000s due to the army's limited resources and low budget priority.[18]
In 2016, the Mozambican Army consisted of 10,000 troops organised into three special forces battalions, seven light infantry battalions, two engineer battalions, two artillery battalions, and a single logistics battalion.[21]
As of 2017, the serving chief of the army was Major General Eugènio Dias Da Silva.[22]
Equipment
Between 1977 and 1989, the Mozambican Army was lavishly supplied with Soviet weapons, as well as a Soviet-supervised technical programme to oversee their logistics needs and maintenance.[23] Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, along with the resulting departure of Soviet technical staff, much of this equipment was rendered inoperable.[23] The bulk of the army's hardware remained vested in this ageing and increasingly obsolescent Soviet equipment throughout the 2000s, and serviceability rates have remained low.[21] In 2016, less than 10% of the army's artillery and armoured vehicles were operational.[21]
Small arms
Name | Image | Caliber | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Škorpion[24] | .32 ACP | Submachine gun | Czechoslovak Socialist Republic | ||
Rifles | |||||
SKS[24] | 7.62×39mm | Semi-automatic rifle | Soviet Union | ||
AKM[25] | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Soviet Union | ||
PM md. 63[25] | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Socialist Republic of Romania | ||
Vz. 58[25] | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Czechoslovak Socialist Republic | ||
SA80[26] | 5.56×45mm
|
Bullpup Assault rifle |
United Kingdom | Sold as part of British military aid. | |
FN FAL[24] | 7.62×51mm
|
Battle rifle | Belgium | ||
Sniper rifles | |||||
Mosin-Nagant[25]
|
7.62×54mmR | Bolt-action
Sniper rifle |
Soviet Union | ||
Machine guns | |||||
RPK[24] | 7.62×39mm | Squad automatic weapon | Soviet Union | ||
PKM[25] | 7.62×54mmR | General-purpose machine gun | Soviet Union | ||
DShK[24] | 12.7×108mm | Heavy machine gun | Soviet Union | ||
Rocket propelled grenade launchers | |||||
RPG-7[27] | 40mm | Rocket-propelled grenade | Soviet Union |
Anti-tank weapons
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Caliber | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B-10[25] | Recoilless rifle | Soviet Union | 82mm | ||
9M14 Malyutka[25] | Anti-tank weapon
|
Soviet Union | |||
9K111 Fagot[25] | Anti-tank weapon
|
Soviet Union | 10 in service. |
Mortars
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PM-43 | Mortar | Soviet Union | 12[28] | INS | ||
BM-37 | Mortar | Soviet Union | 40[28] | INS |
Tanks
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-54
|
Medium tank | Soviet Union | 60[29] | INS |
Scout cars
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRDM-2 | Amphibious armored scout car | Soviet Union | 28[27] | INS | ||
BRDM-1 | Amphibious armored scout car | Soviet Union | 28[27] | INS |
Infantry fighting vehicles
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BMP-1 | Infantry fighting vehicle | Soviet Union | 40[21][27] | INS |
Armored personnel carriers
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BTR-152 | Armored personnel carrier
|
Soviet Union | 100[27][21] | INS | ||
BTR-60 | Armored personnel carrier
|
Soviet Union | 160[27][21] | INS | ||
WZ-551 | Armored personnel carrier
|
China | 30-35[30] | INS | ||
AT105 Saxon | Armored personnel carrier
|
United Kingdom | 25[21] | INS | ||
Marauder | Armored personnel carrier
|
South Africa | 5[30] | INS | ||
Casspir | MRAP | South Africa | 15[29] | INS |
Artillery
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rocket artillery | ||||||
BM-21 Grad | Multiple rocket launcher | Soviet Union | 12[28] | INS | ||
Field artillery | ||||||
BS-3 | Field gun | Soviet Union | 20[27][21] | INS | ||
Type 56 | Field gun | Soviet Union China |
12[28] | INS | ||
M-46 | Field gun | Soviet Union | 6[28] | INS | ||
M-30 | Howitzer | Soviet Union | 24[29] | INS | ||
D-1 | Howitzer | Soviet Union | 12[28] | INS | ||
D-30 | Howitzer | Soviet Union | 12[27] | INS | ||
M101 | Howitzer | United States | 12[31] | INS | ||
D-48 | Anti-tank gun | Soviet Union | 6[28] | INS |
Air defence systems
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZU-23-2 | Autocannon | Soviet Union | 120[27][21] | INS | ||
61-K
|
Autocannon | Soviet Union | 90[21] | INS | 10 in storage. | |
ZSU-57-2 | SPAAG
|
Soviet Union | 20[27][21] | INS | ||
S-125 Neva[32]
|
Surface-to-air missile | Soviet Union | 103[29] | INS | ||
9K32 Strela-2 | MANPADS
|
Soviet Union | 20[27] | INS | 250 in storage.[33] |
Air Force
There are about 200 personnel in the navy.
In 2013, the French shipyard
Equipment
- PCI-class inshore patrol boat (3 ordered, non-operational)
- MNS Pebane (P-001) ex-Spanish navy Dragonera (P-32) ( 85 tons, 32 meters ) transferred after refit 2012 from the Spanish Navy[39] for a symbolic price (€100).
- 20 - 25 DV 15 interceptors. An unknown number of units in active service.[40]
- 3 x HSI32 Interceptors [40]
- 3 x Ocean Eagle 43 OPV. Three were acquired as part of the CMN deal. Currently all three are based at Pemba.[40]
References
- ^ Military Technology, World Defence Almanac, Vol. XXXII, Issue 1, 2008, p.323
- ^ ""You don't need to be a military officer to be defence minister" – Jaime Bessa Neto | Club of Mozambique".
- ^ IISS2021, p. 478.
- ^ Coelho, Malache & Macaringue 2015, p. 161.
- ^ Coelho, Malache & Macaringue 2015, p. 162.
- ^ Coelho, Malache & Macaringue 2015, p. 173.
- ^ "Suppressing the Revival of Conflict in Mozambique through Inclusive National Dialogue". ACCORD. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ 'Final Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Mozambique,' S/1994/1449, 23 December 1994
- ^ Richard Synge, Mozambique: UN Peacekeeping in Action, 1992-94, United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington, D.C., 1997, p.105
- ^ Reuters, Mozambique leader Guebuza sacks defence chiefs, 2008
- ^ World Library. "A History of the Mozambican Civil War" (PDF). worldlibrary.org. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^
"Mozambique: New Ministers Sworn in". allAfrica.com. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
- ^ "Mozambique defence minister axed a year after arms depot tragedy". International News Service. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^
"Mozambique: Guebuza Sacks Defence Minister". allAfrica.com. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
- ^ "Oje - o Jornal Economico - África - China equipa exército de Moçambique com material agrícola de 4 milhões de euros". Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Helmoed-Romer Heitman, 'Burundi mission at full strength,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 29 October 2003, 16.
- ^ Berman & Sams 2000.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Coelho, Malache & Macaringue 2015.
- ISBN 978-0844816104.
- ^ Coelho, Malache & Macaringue 2015, p. 181.
- ^ ISBN 978-1857438352.
- ^ "Sunil Lanba visits Mozambique, Tanzania". Indiablooms.com. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-1588263155.
- ^ a b c d e "SALW Guide: Global distribution and visual identification (Mozambique country report)" (PDF). Bonn: Bonn International Center for Conversion. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ ISBN 9780710609632.
- ^ Grant 2016, p. 75.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kruger, Anton; Martin, Guy (23 August 2013). "Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique". Johannesburg: DefenceWeb. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ S2CID 219623431.
- ^ a b c d SIPRI, (various) (2016). "Trade Registers". Solna: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Trade Registers". Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ IISS 2016, p. 458.
- ISBN 978-0333340790.
- ISBN 978-0798301749.
- ^ IISS2021, p. 479.
- ^ Helmoed-Romer Heitman, 'SAN patrol boats gifted to Mozambique,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 September 2004, p.17
- ^ "French shipyard CMN confirms major order by Mozambique including 6 Patrol Vessels & Interceptors". Navy Recognition. 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Mozambique Police used indian made Mahindra MPVI 4x4 armored vehicles | Defense News January 2024 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2024 | Archive News year". 16 January 2024.
- ^ "India hands over two Fast Interceptor boats to Mozambique". Zee News. 29 July 2019.
- ^ "La Armada española transfiere el patrullero 'Conejera' a la Marina de Senegal". spanish navy web. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "H I Sutton - Covert Shores". www.hisutton.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
Works cited
- Berman, Eric G.; Sams, Katie E. (2000). Peacekegeping In Africa : Capabilities And Culpabilities. Geneva: ISBN 92-9045-133-5.
- Coelho, Joao-Paulo Borges; Malache, Adriano; Macaringue, Paulino (2015). Profound transformations and regional conflagrations: The history of Mozambique's armed forces from 1975–2005 (PDF). Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- Grant, Neil (2016). SA80 Assault Rifles. ISBN 978-1-4728-1104-2.
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". ISSN 0015-3710
- ISBN 978-1-85743-835-2.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. ISBN 978-1032012278.
Further reading
- Protocol on the Formation of the FADM, Rome 1992
- Cameron R. Hume, Ending Mozambique's War: The Role of Mediation and Good Offices, U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington DC, 1994
- Lundin, Irae B, Martinho Chachiua, Anthonio Gaspar, Habiba Guebuzua, and Guilherme Mbilana (2000). Reducing Costs through an Expensive Exercise: The Impact of Demobilization in Mozambique, in Kees Kingma (ed.) Demobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Development and Security Impacts, Basingstoke, UK: MacMillan, 173-212
- Anica Lala, Security sector reform in post-conflict environments: An analysis of coherence and sequencing in Mozambique. Examining Peacebuilding Challenges of Defence, Police and Justice Reforms in a Neo-Liberal Era, 2014 Bradford thesis
- Anica Lala, Security and Democracy in Southern Africa: Mozambique, 2007
- Paulino Macaringue, "Civil-Military Relations in Post-Cold War Mozambique," Ourselves to Know, Institute for Security Studies, 2002.
- Martin Rupiya, 'Historical Context: War and Peace in Mozambique,' in Jeremy Armon, Dylan Henrickson and Alex Vines, eds, The Mozambican Peace Process in Perspective, London: Conciliation Resources Accord Series, 1998
- Richard Synge, Mozambique: UN Peacekeeping in Action, 1992–94, United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington, D.C., 1997 - includes details on formation of FADM, but has multiple mistakes, including concluding from mid-mission rather than final ONUMOZ report that new army had five (rather than final seven) battalions.
- Eric T. Young, The Development of the FADM in Mozambique: Internal and External Dynamics, African Security Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1996
- [1]
- Joao Porto, Mozambique contributes to the African Union Mission in Burundi, April 2003
External links
- United States Marine Corps, Brotherhood of Arms Archived 3 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine- story of one Mozambiqican officer's career
- https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1976MAPUTO00888_b.html - details in 1976
- "7000 ghost soldiers found. Soldiers have been paid in cash, and in March actually had to show up to collect. According to Carta de Moçambique (4, 6 May) 7000 ghost soldiers were found. "Among the irregularities detected in recent months is the growing number of children of former combatants, generals, colonels and politicians, who swell the ranks of the FADM and receive salaries without ever having been in military training, let alone setting foot in a military unit," noted Carta. And many salaries of fake soldier were being channelled to senior officials. The scheme also includes the distribution of food, alcoholic beverage, fuel vouchers and rent subsidy. The military will now switch to electronic payments." Joseph Hanlon, Mozambique News Reports and Clippings 596, 16 May 2022, accessible via https://www.open.ac.uk/technology/mozambique/news-reports-clippings-2022.
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.).