Military of Senegal
Encyclopedia
The Senegal
ese armed forces consist of about 19,000 well-trained and disciplined personnel in the army, air force
, navy, and gendarmerie. The Senegalese 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, and 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 Nigeria
n ones.)
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, while in 1994, a battalion-sized force was sent to Rwanda
to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission there.
In 1992 1,500 men were sent to the ECOMOG peacekeeping group in Liberia
.
In 1991, Senegal was the only Sub-Sahara
n nation to send a contingent to participate in Operation Desert Storm.
In 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, which began with the joint Senegalese-Gambian efforts during the 1981 coup attempt, ceased with the dissolution of the Senegambian Confederation.
in the past.
Although the Senegalese air force is geared towards supporting it, the army maintains its own very small aviation branch, called the "Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre" (like the French army's equivalent), which consists of five light helicopters and two SA330 Puma transport helicopters.
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".
. It is responsible for securing Senegal's atlantic coastline which is strategically located on the extreme west of the African continent. The navy was created in 1961.
The Navy is divided into three branches known as "groupings":
gunship helicopters, transport helicopters and aeroplanes, and reconnaissance helicopters and aeroplanes. This small force is commanded by a colonel
.
Each zone comprises a garrison office which caters to military issues and a social service office.
The IISS Military Balance listed four zones in 2007.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 341 Gazelle
|| || scout helicopter || SA 341 || 1 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale AS 355Ecureuil
|| || trainer helicopter || AS 355F1 || 2 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-24
|| || attack helicopter || Mi-35 Hind || 2 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-17
|| || transport helicopter || Mi-17 Hip || 2 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-2
|| || utility helicopter || Mi-2 || 2 ||
|-----
| Fokker F-27 Friendship || || transport || F-27-400M || 6 ||
|-----
| Casa C-212 MPA || || Maritime Patrol Aircraft || C-212-200MPA || 1 ||
|-----
| Boeing 727
|| || VIP || 727-200 || 1 ||
|-----
| CASA/IPTN CN-235 || || VIP and troop transport|| CN-235-220|| 2 ||
|-----
| Britten-Norman Islander
|| || utility || BN-2T || 1 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale Magister || || trainer || CM 170 || 4 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale Epsilon
|| || trainer || TB30 Epsilon || 2 ||
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese armed forces consist of about 19,000 well-trained and disciplined personnel in the army, air force
Senegalese Air Force
The Senegalese Air Force is the air force branch of the Senegalese Armed Forces. It was formed on 1 April 1961 with Douglas C-47s, MH.1521 Broussards, plus Sud Aloutte II and Agusta-Bell 47G helicopters. Close ties to France have been maintained with France through training and base facilities...
, navy, and gendarmerie. The Senegalese 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
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping mission, and agreed to deploy a United States-trained battalion to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
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 Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n ones.)
Senegal intervened in the Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
civil war in 1998 at the request of former President Vieira
João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira was the President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1999 and again from 2005 to 2009. After seizing power in 1980, Vieira ruled for 19 years, and he won a multiparty presidential election in 1994. He was ousted at the end of the 1998–1999 civil war and went into exile...
.
A Senegalese contingent deployed on a peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
in 1997, while in 1994, a battalion-sized force was sent to Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission there.
In 1992 1,500 men were sent to the ECOMOG peacekeeping group in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
.
In 1991, Senegal was the only Sub-Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
n nation to send a contingent to participate in Operation Desert Storm.
In August 1981, the Senegalese military was invited into The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara to put down a coup attempt. In August 1989, Senegalese-Gambian military cooperation, which began with the joint Senegalese-Gambian efforts during the 1981 coup attempt, ceased with the dissolution of the Senegambian Confederation.
The Four Forces
The four forces are the army, navy, air force and gandarmerie. 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. Only the army and gendarmerie are important enough to have general officers, although the navy has been commanded by a flag officerFlag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
in the past.
Army
Since independence the army has gone through a large number of reorganisations. It currently consists of two divisions, the Operations Division and the Logistic Division. It has a strength of 9,000 soldiers. The army's heritage includes the prestigious Tirailleurs sénégalais.Although the Senegalese air force is geared towards supporting it, the army maintains its own very small aviation branch, called the "Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre" (like the French army's equivalent), which consists of five light helicopters and two SA330 Puma transport helicopters.
National 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 SpahiSpahi
Spahis were light cavalry regiments of the French army recruited primarily from the indigenous populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The modern French Army retains one regiment of Spahis as an armoured unit, with personnel now recruited in mainland France...
detachment sent to Senegal in 1845. This detachment (which became today's Red Guard of Senegal
Red Guard of Senegal
The Red Guard of Senegal is a unit of the Senegalese Gendarmerie which is responsible for presidential security. It also has ceremonial duties and assists in general policing. It is very similar in concept to the French Republican Guard, with which it is officially twinned...
) 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
Divisional General
Divisional General is a rank used in many armies to denote a rank of general, corresponding to command of a division. For convenience Divisional General is almost always translated into English as Major-General, the equivalent rank used by the UK, USA, etc., although this translation is, strictly...
, 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 Ship-of-the-Line CaptainShip-of-the-Line Captain
Ship-of-the-line captain is a rank that appears in several navies...
. It is responsible for securing Senegal's atlantic coastline which is strategically located on the extreme west of the African continent. The navy was created in 1961.
The Navy is divided into three branches known as "groupings":
- 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 FluvialFluvialFluvial is used in geography and Earth science to refer to the processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them...
-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 has no air-to-air combat aircraft, but possesses Mil Mi-24Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
gunship helicopters, transport helicopters and aeroplanes, and reconnaissance helicopters and aeroplanes. This small force is commanded by a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Military zones
At the present time, there are seven military zones:- Zone n°1 - DakarDakarDakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
- Zone n°2 - Saint-LouisSaint-Louis, SenegalSaint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
- Zone n°3 - KaolackKaolackKaolack is a town of 172,305 people on the north bank of the Saloum River and the N1 road in Senegal. It is the capital of the Kaolack Region, which borders The Gambia to the south. Kaolack is an important regional market town and is Senegal's main peanut trading and processing center...
- Zone n°4 - ZiguinchorZiguinchorZiguinchor is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region, and the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal, lying at the mouth of the Casamance River. It has a population of over 230,000...
- Zone n°5 - TambacoundaTambacoundaTambacounda is the largest city in eastern Senegal, southeast of Dakar, and is the Regional capital of the province of the same name. Its estimated population in 2007 was 78,800.-Geography:...
- Zone n°6 - KoldaKoldaKolda is a city located in southern Senegal. It is the capital city of Kolda Region, a region known historically and popularly as Haute Casamance.-Physical Geology and Climate:...
- Zone n°7 - ThièsThièsThiès is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies 60 km east of Dakar on the N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and St-Louis...
Each zone comprises a garrison office which caters to military issues and a social service office.
The IISS Military Balance listed four zones in 2007.
Equipment
- 14 Greyhound M-8 with 37mm gun(10)\ M-20 (4) 6x6 ARVs
- 12 RatelRatelThe honey badger , also known as the ratel, is a species of mustelid native to Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species, instead bearing more anatomical similarities to weasels...
-20 6x6 20mm gun AIFV - 28 Panhard AMLPanhard AML-Former Operators:: unknown number of AML-60s and AML-90s in service between 1960-1975.: 34 Eland 90s and Eland 60s in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1979, passed on to successor state.-Trivia:...
-60 60mm mortar 4x4 ARVs
Early Modern France - 24 Panhard AMLPanhard AML-Former Operators:: unknown number of AML-60s and AML-90s in service between 1960-1975.: 34 Eland 90s and Eland 60s in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1979, passed on to successor state.-Trivia:...
-90 90mm gun 4x4 ARVs Early Modern France - 47 ArmscorArmscor (South Africa)Armscor , the Armaments Corporation of South Africa is a South African government-supported weapon-producing conglomerate that was officially established in 1968, primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the United Nations against South Africa that began in 1963 and...
ElandEland Mk7The Eland is a South African light armoured car based on the Panhard AML. Its permanent 4x4 drive gives it its mobility, and it can carry either a 90 mm quick firing low pressure gun, or a 60 mm breech loading mortar as main weapons...
-90 90mm 4x4 ARVs Early Modern France\ - 12 VBX-170 APCs Early Modern France
- 12 Panhard M3Panhard M3The Panhard M3 VTT , armoured personnel carrier was designed as a private venture with the first prototype completed in 1969. The prototype had a single door in each side of the hull and twin doors in the hull rear...
4x4 APCs Early Modern France - 10 Half-truck M-3 APCs
- Ford M-151 Jeep 4x4
- Reo M-35 6x6 trucks
- Reo M-44 6x6 trucks
- ACMATACMATACMAT , is a French producer of cross-country and tactical military vehicles since 1958...
trucks Early Modern France - M-809 6x6 trucks
- 12 M-50 155mm Howitzers Early Modern France
- 6 M-101 105mm Howitzers
- 6 M116 HowitzerM116 howitzerThe 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. The gun and carriage was designed so that it could be broken down into several pieces to be carried by pack animals...
75mm - 8 BrandtBrandt- People :* Andy Brandt , Canadian politician* Arthur William Brandt , American engineer* Augusto Brandt , South American classical musician and composer* Bill Brandt , British photographer and photojournalist...
120mm heavy mortar Early Modern France - 8 BrandtBrandt- People :* Andy Brandt , Canadian politician* Arthur William Brandt , American engineer* Augusto Brandt , South American classical musician and composer* Bill Brandt , British photographer and photojournalist...
81mm medium mortar Early Modern France - 4-10 MBDA Milan ATGM Launchers Early Modern France\
- 36 Larc-89\Strim 89mm Light ATRLs Early Modern France
- 12 Bofors L-60 40mm
Sweden AAGs - 21 53-T-2 20mm AAGs Early Modern France
Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 341 Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
|| || scout helicopter || SA 341 || 1 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale AS 355Ecureuil
Eurocopter AS355
The Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale...
|| || trainer helicopter || AS 355F1 || 2 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-24
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
|| || attack helicopter || Mi-35 Hind || 2 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
|| || transport helicopter || Mi-17 Hip || 2 ||
|-----
| Mil Mi-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
|| || utility helicopter || Mi-2 || 2 ||
|-----
| Fokker F-27 Friendship || || transport || F-27-400M || 6 ||
|-----
| Casa C-212 MPA || || Maritime Patrol Aircraft || C-212-200MPA || 1 ||
|-----
| Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
|| || VIP || 727-200 || 1 ||
|-----
| CASA/IPTN CN-235 || || VIP and troop transport|| CN-235-220|| 2 ||
|-----
| Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
|| || utility || BN-2T || 1 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale Magister || || trainer || CM 170 || 4 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale Epsilon
Aérospatiale Epsilon
|-See also:...
|| || trainer || TB30 Epsilon || 2 ||