Armed Forces of Senegal

The Armed Forces of Senegal (Template:Langx) 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.

Summary of past military actions

File:Senegalese navy Adm. Ousmane Ibrahima Sall, left, the deputy chief of staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, inspects a formation of troops with military leaders from other nations during exercise Western Accord 120714-M-XI134-0407.jpg

Commando battalion of Thiès.

• In October 1980 and August 1981, the Senegalese military was invited into the Gambia by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara to put down a coup attempt.
• 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.
• 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 () is the leading force within the Senegalese armed forces and provides the chief of staff and the .

Army

File:M-16 carbine marksmanship range training during African Lion 22 in Dodji, Senegal 220624-A-OA230-0056.jpg

Senegalese soldiers during a training exercise.

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. 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 at Kolda; there are six infantry battalions numbered 1st to 6th. 3rd Battalion may have been at Kaolack with 4th at Tambacounda at one point.

Also reported is the 12th Battalion of the 2nd Military Zone at Saint Louis (Dakhar Bango), 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 "" (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

File:Spahis sénégalais lors de l'Investiture de Macky Sall - 2 avril 2012 (3).jpg

Red Guard of Senegal.

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

File:Fouladou Senegal Patrol.jpg

The Senegalese patrol boat Fouladou

File:US Navy 090808-G-3885B-136 The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Legare (WMEC 912), left, patrols along side the Senegalese Navy vessel, Poponquine, during joint operations as part of the Africa Partnership Station.jpg

training with a United States Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Senegal

The navy (), also known as the , is of small size and is commanded by a ship-of-the-line captain. It is responsible for securing Senegal's 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. The Navy operates two bases, one at Dakar and the other at Elinkine. The navy also patrols the territorial waters as well as a declared exclusive economic zone.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

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

• The Operational Naval Grouping (), which is divided into three flotillas and one group:
  • The High Seas Patrol Boats (),
  • The Coastal Surveillance Vessels (),
  • The Fast Coastal Boats () and
  • The Transport Group ().
• The Naval Support Grouping () responsible for ports, repairs, training, and logistics.
• The Fluvial-Maritime Surveillance Grouping.

Air Force

File:Roundel of Senegal.svg

Air Force Roundel.

The air force () 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

File:Zones militaires sénégal carte map.png

Senegal's Military zones.

At the present time, there are seven military zones:

• 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	File:1972 Walther PP.jpg	.25 ACP	Semi-automatic pistol	Germany
PAMAS G1	File:DCB-Shooting MAS G1S.jpg	9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Italy France
MAC 50	File:MAC-50 detoured.jpg	9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	France
Manurhin MR 73	File:Manurhin-MR-73.jpg	.357 Magnum	Revolver	France
Submachine guns
MAS-38	File:MAS 1938 submachine gun-IMG 7409-white.jpg	7.65×20mm	Submachine gun	France
MAT-49	File:MAT Submachine Gun.jpg	9×19mm	Submachine gun	France
SMT9			Submachine gun	Brazil
Rifles
FAMAS	File:FAMAS-img 1016.jpg	5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	France
M16	File:M16A2 rightside noBG.jpg	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States
M4	File:PEO M4 Carbine RAS M68 CCO.png	5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States
CAR-15	File:USAF GAU 5A noBG.png	5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States
Taurus T4	File:Fuzil T4.jpg	5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	Brazil
Norinco CQ	File:NORINCO Type CQ 5'56x45mm assault rifle.jpg	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	China
Daewoo K1	File:South Korean K1 carbine No.1 0.jpg	.223 Remington	Carbine Assault rifle	South Korea	Received 280 K1A rifles in 2003.
Daewoo K2	File:Daewoo K2 rifle 0.jpg	5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	South Korea
IWI Tavor	File:IWI-Tavor-TAR-21w1.jpg	5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	Israel
IWI Tavor X95	File:MicroTavorX95MARS-white.jpg	5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	Israel
Heckler & Koch G3	File:H&K G3FS.jpg	7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	West Germany France	French-made G3s
SIG SG 540	File:SG 540 Manurhin noBG.png	7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Switzerland
MAS-36	File:MAS Modèle 36 right side.jpg	7.5×54mm	Bolt-action rifle	France
MAS-49/56	File:MAS 49 56.JPG	7.5×54mm	Semi-automatic rifle	France
Sniper rifles
SVD	File:SVD Dragunov.jpg	7.62×54mmR	Sniper rifle Designated marksman rifle	Soviet Union
KNT-76	File:MPT-76 Assault Rifle noBG.png	7.62×51mm	Designated marksman rifle	Turkey
IWI Galatz	File:Galil-Sniper-Galatz-r001.jpg	5.56×45mm	Designated marksman rifle	Israel
Machine guns
IWI Negev	File:IWI-Negev-Zachi-Evenor-01-white.jpg	5.56×45mm	Light machine gun	Israel
AA-52	File:Mitrailleuse-IMG 1728.jpg	7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	France
Heckler & Koch HK21	File:HK 21 LMG RIGHT SIDE.jpg	7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	West Germany
M60	File:M60 Medium Machine Gun (7414626098).jpg	7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	United States
Browning M2	File:PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg	.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7	File:Rpg-7.jpg	40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
LRAC F1	File:LRAC F1-detoured-cropped.png	89mm	Shoulder-launched missile weapon	France

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
MILAN	File:Tag der Bundeswehr Jagel 2019 HJL 13 noBG.png	Anti-tank missile	France West Germany		496

Anti-aircraft weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Bofors L/60Template:Sfn	File:40mm bofors AA-gun in Finland.JPG	Autocannon	Sweden	12
20 mm modèle F2 gun	File:20mm F2 gun.jpg	Autocannon	France	21		Used for air defence.

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Rocket artillery
Bastion-01	File:Ukrainian BM-21 Grad Bastion-01 in Kyiv, Ukraine on 22 of August, 2014 IMG 7655 01.JPG	Multiple rocket launcher	Ukraine	6
Field artillery
M101	File:JGSDF 105mm Howitzer M2A1(Type 58 105mm Howitzer) left front view at Camp Nihonbara October 1, 2017.jpg	Howitzer	United States	6Template:Sfn
M-50	File:M-1950-beyt-hatotchan-2.jpg	Howitzer	France	6
TRF1	File:TRM-10000 - TRF-1 003 FR.JPG	Howitzer	France	8
Mortars
MO-120-RT-61	File:Mortier 120mm fh000021.jpg	Towed mortar	France	32

Tank destroyers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
WMA-301	File:WMA-301 tank destroyers of Djiboutian Army.jpg	Tank destroyer	China	12

Infantry fighting vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Ratel IFV	File:Ratel 90 armyrecognition South-Africa 008.jpg	Infantry fighting vehicle	South Africa	26

Armored personnel carriers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Panhard M3	File:PanhardM3.png	Armoured personnel carrier	France	16
M3 half-track	File:M3 half track 9-08-2008 14-47-56.JPG	Half-track Armored personnel carrier	United States	12
WZ-551	File:Sri Lanka Military 0233.jpg	Command post	China	1
EE-11 Urutu	File:EE-11 Urutu — 15RcMecEs.jpg	Amphibious Armored personnel carrier	Brazil	Unknown
RG-31 Nyala	File:RG-31.JPG	Infantry mobility vehicle	South Africa	Unknown
Dozor-B	File:Dozor-B, Kyiv 2018, 01.jpg	Infantry mobility vehicle	Ukraine	6

Reconnaissance

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Panhard AML	File:AML-90 DM-SC-91-12078.JPEG	Armored car	France	53
Eland-90	File:Eland Armoured Vehicle.jpg	Armored car	South Africa	47
RAM MK3	File:RAM2000vehicle.jpg	Armored Car	Israel	55

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Casspir	File:Mechem Casspir Mk II (9686200019).jpg	MRAP	South Africa	9
Katmerciler Hizir II	File:Hızır4x4 zırhlı araç.jpg	MRAP	Turkey	N/A
PUMA M26-15	File:OTT Puma M26-15 MRAP (9686047211).jpg	MRAP	South Africa	30
Ejder Yalçın	File:Ejder Yalçın.jpg	MRAP	Turkey	25

Utility vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Humvee	File:2015 MCAS Beaufort Air Show 041215-M-CG676-161.jpg	Light utility vehicle	United States	23
M151	File:AMG M151 A2 (1978) GB (owner Gavin Broad).JPG	Utility vehicle	United States	Unknown

Aircraft

Navy

• 2 Metal Shark patrol ships

• 3 Shaldag MK II patrol ships

• 1 Shaldag MK V patrol ships

Citations

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

External links

• Website of the Armed Forces of Senegal.