Armed Forces of Senegal explained

Senegalese Armed Forces
Native Name:French: Forces armées du Sénégal
Founded:1962
Commander-In-Chief:Macky Sall
Commander-In-Chief Title:President
Minister:Sidiki Kaba
Minister Title:Minister of the Armed Forces
Commander:General of Air Corps Mbaye Cissé
Commander Title:Chief of the General Staff
Manpower Data:2,218,920 (2000 est.)
Available:1,158,893 (2000 est.)
Fit:109,381 (2000 est.)
Active:17,000
Amount:~ $350 million (FY2018)
Percent Gdp:~1.5% (FY2018 est.)
Foreign Suppliers:





History:Mauritania–Senegal Border War
Casamance conflict
Gulf War
Guinea-Bissau Civil War
Insurgency in the Maghreb
2008 invasion of Anjouan
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Invasion of the Gambia
Ranks:Military ranks of Senegal

The Armed Forces of Senegal (French: Forces armées du Sénégal) consists of about 17,000 personnel in the army, air force, navy, and gendarmerie. The Senegal military force receives most of its training, equipment, and support from France and the United States. Germany also provides support but on a smaller scale.

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 Democratic Republic of Congo to participate in MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Senegal also agreed to deploy a United States-trained battalion to Sierra Leone to participate in UNAMSIL, another UN peacekeeping mission. The training operation was designated Operation Focus Relief and involved U.S. Army Special Forces from 3rd Special Forces Group training a number of West African battalions, including Nigerian ones.

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

The Army (French: Armée de Terre) is the leading force within the Senegalese armed forces and provides the chief of staff and the French: 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 Tirailleurs sénégalais. In 1978, Senegal dispatched a battalion to the Inter-African Force in Zaire, in the aftermath of the Shaba II fighting. The Senegalese contingent was under the command of Colonel Osmane Ndoye.[4] The Senegalese force comprised a parachute battalion from Thiaroye.

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 French: 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 Saint Louis (Dakhar Bango),[7] along with the Prytanée militaire de Saint-Louis, a military secondary school.

Although the Senegalese Air Force is geared towards supporting it, the army may have previously maintained its own very small aviation branch, called the "French: Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre" (like the French army's equivalent), which may have counted up to five light helicopters and two SA330 Puma transport helicopters. The IISS Military Balance 2012 does not list any helicopters in army service.

National Gendarmerie

See main article: Senegalese Gendarmerie. 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 (French: marine), also known as the French: Armée de mer, is of small size and is commanded by a ship-of-the-line captain. It is responsible for securing Senegal's 286adj=onNaNadj=on Atlantic coastline which is strategically located on the extreme west of the African continent. The coastline is divided in two by The Gambia. The navy was created in 1975.[8] The Navy operates two bases, one at Dakar and the other at Elinkine. The navy also patrols the 12adj=onNaNadj=on territorial waters as well as a declared 200abbr=offNaNabbr=off exclusive economic zone.

The Navy is divided into three branches known as "groupings":[9]

Air Force

See main article: Senegalese Air Force. The air force (French: Armée de l'Air) is orientated towards providing support for ground forces and resembles an army aviation corps. It possesses Mil Mi-24 gunship helicopters, as well as transport and reconnaissance aircraft.

Military Areas

At the present time, there are seven military zones:[10]

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

width=16%Namewidth=10%Imagewidth=15%Caliberwidth=12%Typewidth=10%Originwidth=28%Notes
Pistols
Walther PP[11] .25 ACPSemi-automatic pistol
PAMAS G19×19mmSemi-automatic pistol
MAC 509×19mmSemi-automatic pistol
Manurhin MR 73.357 MagnumRevolver
Submachine guns
MAS-38[12] 7.65×20mmSubmachine gun
MAT-499×19mmSubmachine gun
SMT9[13] Submachine gun
Rifles
FAMAS5.56×45mmBullpup
Assault rifle
M16[14] 5.56×45mmAssault rifle
M4[15] 5.56×45mmCarbine
Assault rifle
CAR-155.56×45mmCarbine
Assault rifle
Taurus T4[16] [17] 5.56×45mmCarbine
Assault rifle
Norinco CQ[18] 5.56×45mmAssault rifle
Daewoo K1[19] .223 RemingtonCarbine
Assault rifle
Received 280 K1A rifles in 2003.
Daewoo K2[20] [21] 5.56×45mmCarbine
Assault rifle
IWI Tavor[22] 5.56×45mmBullpup
Assault rifle
IWI Tavor X95[23] 5.56×45mmBullpup
Assault rifle
Heckler & Koch G37.62×51mmBattle rifle
French-made G3s
SIG SG 5407.62×51mmBattle rifle
MAS-36[24] 7.5×54mmBolt-action rifle
MAS-49/56[25] 7.5×54mmSemi-automatic rifle
Sniper rifles
SVD[26] 7.62×54mmRSniper rifle
Designated marksman rifle
KNT-76[27] 7.62×51mmDesignated marksman rifle
IWI Galatz5.56×45mmDesignated marksman rifle
Machine guns
IWI Negev5.56×45mmLight machine gun
AA-527.62×51mmGeneral-purpose machine gun
Heckler & Koch HK217.62×51mmGeneral-purpose machine gun
M60[28] 7.62×51mmGeneral-purpose machine gun
Browning M2.50 BMGHeavy machine gun
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-740mmRocket-propelled grenade
LRAC F1[29] 89mmShoulder-launched missile weapon

Anti-tank weapons

width=16%Namewidth=21%Imagewidth=15%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Caliberwidth=26%Notes
MILAN[30] Anti-tank missile
496

Anti-aircraft weapons

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
Bofors L/60Autocannon12
20 mm modèle F2 gunAutocannon21Used for air defence.

Artillery

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
Rocket artillery
Bastion-01Multiple rocket launcher6[31]
Field artillery
M101Howitzer6
M-50Howitzer6[32]
TRF1Howitzer8[33]
Mortars
MO-120-RT-61Towed mortar32

Tank destroyers

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
WMA-301Tank destroyer12[34]

Infantry fighting vehicles

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
Ratel IFV26[35]

Armored personnel carriers

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
Panhard M3Armoured personnel carrier16
M3 half-track12
WZ-551Command post1
EE-11 UrutuAmphibious Armored personnel carrierUnknown[36]
RG-31 NyalaInfantry mobility vehicleUnknown
Dozor-BInfantry mobility vehicle6

Reconnaissance

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
Panhard AML53
Eland-9047[37]
RAM MK3Armored Car55

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
Casspir9[38]
PUMA M26-1530
Ejder Yalçın25[39]

Utility vehicles

width=14%Namewidth=20%Imagewidth=14%Typewidth=12%Originwidth=10%Quantitywidth=06%Statuswidth=24%Notes
HumveeLight utility vehicle23[40]
M151Utility vehicleUnknown[41]

Aircraft

See main article: Senegalese Air Force. Navy[42]

Citations

Part of this article is derived from the equivalent article at French Wikipedia

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Matisek. Jahara. March 2019. An Effective Senegalese Military Enclave: The Armée-Nation "Rolls On". African Security. 12. 62–86. 10.1080/19392206.2019.1593004. 150559462.
  2. Web site: Opérations en Gambie : Il était une fois "Fodé Kaba 1" et "Fodé Kaba 2". fr. Ndèye Fatou. Ndiaye . Chamsidine. Sané. seneweb.com . 17 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Guinea: Senegal Sends Troops To Bissau. 12 June 1998. allafrica.com.
  4. Web site: Le Potential . 2014-03-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140329123558/http://lepotentielonline.com/site2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4846:colonel-ousmane-ndoye-les-soldats-zairois-faisaient-partie-des-meilleurs-du-continent&catid=90:online-depeches&Itemid=468 . 2014-03-29 . dead .
  5. IISS Military Balance 2012, 449.
  6. Web site: Sorry . 2012-06-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140329154126/http://www.popxibaar.com/CHANGEMENT-A-LA-TETE-DE-LA-DIRPA-Le-Colonel-Abdourahim-Kebe-prend-les-commandes_a1204.html . 2014-03-29 .
  7. Web site: SAINT-LOUIS - en visite au 12e bataillon : Macky Sall promet de meilleures conditions de travail . www.lequotidien.sn . 22 May 2022 . https://archive.today/20130418130346/http://www.lequotidien.sn/index.php/societe/item/11420-saint-louis-en-visite-au-12e-bataillon--macky-sall-promet-de-meilleures-conditions-de-travail . 18 April 2013 . dead.
  8. News: Gonzalez . Flor . U.S. Africa Command continues to develop Senegal's Enlisted Development Strategy . 24 May 2020 . United States Africa Command . 28 January 2020.
  9. Bryden & N'Diaye (eds), 'Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa, DCAF, 2011, 207.
  10. État Major des Armees, Zones militaires, accessed August 2009
  11. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). .
  12. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Senegal. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  13. Moss, Matthew (June 8th, 2020) "Senegal's Security Forces Buy Taurus Carbines & SMGs" TheFirearmBlog.com, 2024, https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/06/08/taurus-sells-carbines-smgs-to-senegal/, Date accessed: 8/10/2024
  14. Web site: Jeremy . Binnie. Erwan. de Cherisey. https://web.archive.org/web/20170622123315/http://www.janes.com/images/assets/520/71520/New-model_African_armies.pdf. New-model African armies. Jane's. 2017. 22 June 2017.
  15. Web site: Senegal received 2 200 M4 carbines from the US . 26 July 2019 . defenceWeb.
  16. Web site: 2020-05-28. Senegal compra fuzis e submetralhadoras da Taurus. 2021-05-22. Forças Terrestres - ForTe. pt-BR.
  17. Moss, Matthew (June 8th, 2020) "Senegal's Security Forces Buy Taurus Carbines & SMGs" TheFirearmBlog.com, 2024, https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/06/08/taurus-sells-carbines-smgs-to-senegal/, Date accessed: 8/10/2024
  18. Web site: Jackson J Wood . Independence Day . jacksonjwood.com . 2012-04-17 . 2017-01-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202072248/http://www.jacksonjwood.com/independence-day/ . February 2, 2017 . live .
  19. Web site: ID No. 195149 . 2012-11-30 . usurped . https://archive.today/20130127131701/http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?ctg=12&Total_ID=195149 . 2013-01-27 .
  20. Web site: 세네갈군의 K-2 소총과 K201.
  21. Web site: Mali: Ban urges immediate end to fighting amid rapidly deteriorating situation in Kidal. 21 May 2014.
  22. Web site: Defence Notes – Shephard Media . 2017-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170325064932/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/senegal-moves-ahead-military-procurements/ . 2017-03-25 . live .
  23. Web site: 2018-05-07. Tavor And Galil Rifles Plus Jericho Pistols Come to Senegal. 2021-04-05. The Firearm Blog. en-US.
  24. Web site: Post-WWII use of the MAS-36 rifle: Part II (export users) . wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com . 2015-08-23 . 2017-06-15.
  25. Encyclopedia: National inventories, Senegal. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. 22 November 2000. Terry J.. Gander.
  26. Web site: El Ejército asesora a Senegal. 28 August 2015. ejercito.mde.es. es. 18 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202132831/http://www.ejercito.mde.es/reportajes/2015/019_asesora-senegal.html. 2 February 2018. live.
  27. Web site: Senegal Silahlı Kuvvetleri'ne KNT-76 Keskin Nişancı Tüfeği teslimatı . 26 December 2020. 26 February 2021.
  28. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-03-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140218121738/http://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/EDA_053013c.xlsx . February 18, 2014 .
  29. LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher. Dan. Shea. Small Arms Review. 13. 5. February 2010. 2018-12-12. 2019-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018030618/http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1076. dead.
  30. Book: . . 2020 . The Military Balance . 120 . Routledge . 257–504 . 978-0-367-46639-8.
  31. Web site: Senegal parades new BM-21s and armoured vehicles . Janes.com . 2017-04-11 . 2017-06-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516002843/http://www.janes.com/article/69472/senegal-parades-new-bm-21s-and-armoured-vehicles . 16 May 2017 . live.
  32. Web site: Trade Registers . Armstrade.sipri.org . 2014-11-20.
  33. Web site: Armée Sénégalaise – Page 7.
  34. Web site: Binnie. Jeremy. Senegal parades new Chinese armour. IHS Jane's 360. IHS Jane's. 6 April 2016. London. en. 5 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160410034349/http://www.janes.com/article/59321/senegal-parades-new-chinese-armour. 10 April 2016. dead.
  35. Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The Military Balance 2016. 2016. IISS. London. 978-1857438352.
  36. News: Senegal parades new military hardware. . DefenceWeb. Johannesburg. 11 April 2017. 15 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180115201859/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47453:senegal-parades-new-military-hardware&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105. January 15, 2018.
  37. Web site: South African Arms Supplies to Sub-Saharan Africa . SIPRI . January 2011 . 2013-06-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130602105618/http://books.sipri.org/files/misc/SIPRIBP1101.pdf . 2013-06-02 . dead .
  38. Web site: South African Arms Exports. Leon Engelbrecht. 3 January 2011 . 5 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160122185017/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11274:-fact-file-south-african-arms-exports&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159. 22 January 2016. live.
  39. Web site: Turkish armored vehicles showcased in Senegal.
  40. Web site: Morgan . Scott . The U.S. Gives 23 Humvee to the Senegalese Armed Forces . dead . https://archive.today/20170120132941/https://dakar.usembassy.gov/humvee-donation.html . 20 January 2017 . 29 January 2017 . Embassy of the United States in Dakar, Senegal . Dakar.
  41. Book: Annex C Appendix II. US Army Technical Manual of Foreign Military Sales: Battlefield Damage Assessment and Repair. TM 9-2320-356-BD. Washington, D.C.. 18 December 1987. 262. 15 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120904154546/http://imfmotorpool.com/063247.PDF. 4 September 2012. live.
  42. Web site: Senegal Navy . 2022-11-26 . www.globalsecurity.org.