Military of the Gambia
Encyclopedia
The Gambian National Army numbers about 2,500. A new batch of 620 recruits have recently joined. Recruits receive training from the Turkish-Gambian Training Team.
The army consists of infantry battalions, the national guard, and the navy, all under the authority of the Department of State for Defence (a ministerial portfolio held by President Jammeh). Prior to the 1994 coup, the Gambian army received technical assistance and training from the United States
, People's Republic of China
, Nigeria
, and Turkey
. With the withdrawal of most of this aid, the army has received renewed assistance from Turkey
, Pakistan
and Taiwan and new assistance from Libya
and others. Pakistan sent an 18-month advisory team (the Pakistan Armed Forces Advisory Mission, or PAFAM) composed of 1 brigadier, 1 naval captain and 1 group captain from the PAF.
Members of the Gambian military have participated in ECOMOG, the West African force deployed during the Liberian civil war beginning in 1990. Responsibilities for internal security and law enforcement rest with the Gambian police/gendarme force under the inspector general of police and the ministry of the interior.
All branches are jointly governed by a chief of defence staff, Lieutenant General Massaneh Kinteh, who succeeded Lieutenant General Lang Tombong Tamba
who is currently on death row for involvement in a 2009 coup plot.
The Gambia National Army (GNA) has been an infantry force of two battalions, together with an engineering squadron and logistics, signals and intelligence units, plus the presidential guard company. The latter has upgraded its equipment to provide greater fire-power and mobility. It now has several armoured cars (two of which are based at State House) and heavier calibre vehicle-mounted weapons. It is not clear to which branches of the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) new recruits are deployed. An amendment to The Gambia Armed Forces Bill in April 2008 included the creation of three new special units to expand the GAF: the republican guards, the national guards and special forces. There is also an HIV/AIDS prevention programme unit within the GAF.
It should be noted that the numbers in these units are small. The presidential guard company is probably a large platoon of about 50 and the infantry companies almost certainly number less than 100 personnel each armed with light weapons. Army service is voluntary.
Army equipment reportedly includes:
attack jet. Gambia also has former retired Ukrainian helicopters that are non-functional. Recently, a batch of 4 Gambian soldiers received flying training in the Ukraine. A group captain from Pakistan has also submitted a framework, based on which a new Gambian air force can be established.
Current 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
|-----
| Sukhoi Su-25
| USSR
| Ground attack aircraft
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Air Tractor AT-802
| United States
| COIN\CAS Aircraft
|
| 2
|
|-----
| Ilyushin Il-62
| USSR
| Jet transport\VIP
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
| United Kingdom
| Light transport
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Short Skyvan
| United Kingdom
| Light transport
|
| 1
|
|-----
| SNIAS SA-330 Puma
| France
| Utility Helicopter
|
| 2
|
|-----
The army consists of infantry battalions, the national guard, and the navy, all under the authority of the Department of State for Defence (a ministerial portfolio held by President Jammeh). Prior to the 1994 coup, the Gambian army received technical assistance and training from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, 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...
, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. With the withdrawal of most of this aid, the army has received renewed assistance from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Taiwan and new assistance from Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and others. Pakistan sent an 18-month advisory team (the Pakistan Armed Forces Advisory Mission, or PAFAM) composed of 1 brigadier, 1 naval captain and 1 group captain from the PAF.
Members of the Gambian military have participated in ECOMOG, the West African force deployed during the Liberian civil war beginning in 1990. Responsibilities for internal security and law enforcement rest with the Gambian police/gendarme force under the inspector general of police and the ministry of the interior.
All branches are jointly governed by a chief of defence staff, Lieutenant General Massaneh Kinteh, who succeeded Lieutenant General Lang Tombong Tamba
Lang Tombong Tamba
Lang Tombong Tamba was the Chief of Defense Staff of The Gambian Armed Forces until his arrest, detention and trial in an attempted coup plot....
who is currently on death row for involvement in a 2009 coup plot.
Army
Strength has been estimated at about ~1,600.The Gambia National Army (GNA) has been an infantry force of two battalions, together with an engineering squadron and logistics, signals and intelligence units, plus the presidential guard company. The latter has upgraded its equipment to provide greater fire-power and mobility. It now has several armoured cars (two of which are based at State House) and heavier calibre vehicle-mounted weapons. It is not clear to which branches of the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) new recruits are deployed. An amendment to The Gambia Armed Forces Bill in April 2008 included the creation of three new special units to expand the GAF: the republican guards, the national guards and special forces. There is also an HIV/AIDS prevention programme unit within the GAF.
It should be noted that the numbers in these units are small. The presidential guard company is probably a large platoon of about 50 and the infantry companies almost certainly number less than 100 personnel each armed with light weapons. Army service is voluntary.
Army equipment reportedly includes:
- Sterling MK-4Sterling submachine gunThe Sterling submachine gun is a British submachine gun which was in service with the British Army from 1944 until 1994, when it was phased out with the introduction of the L85A1 assault rifle.-History:...
9mm SMG (United Kingdom) - FN-FAL 50-00 7.62mm SAR (Belgium)
- AKM\AK-47 Kalashnikov 7.62mm AR (USSR)
- FN-MAGFN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
7.62mm LMG (Belgium) - RPG-7VRPG-7The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
Light ATRL (USSR) - 8xDaimler Ferret MK-I\IFerret armoured carThe Ferret armoured car, also commonly called the Ferret Scout car, is a British armoured fighting vehicle designed and built for reconnaissance purposes. The Ferret was produced between 1952 and 1971 by the UK company, Daimler...
4x4 ARV (United Kingdom) - M101M101M101 or M-101 may refer to:* Myasishchev M-101T Gzhel, an aircraft produced in Russia* Messier 101, or the Pinwheel Galaxy, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major* M101 howitzer, a 105 mm light howitzer...
105mm towed howitzer (United States)
Other branches
- National Military Police
- National Guard
- Gambian Navy (~250) (4 Hai Ou-classDvora class fast patrol boatThe Dvora class fast patrol boat is a fast class of patrol boats built by Israel Aerospace Industries for the Israeli Sea Corps based on the Israeli Dabur.-Sri Lanka:...
fast attack craft, 2 hovercraft and several small vessels, berthed at GNS Jammeh naval base.
Military manpower - availability
- Males age 15-49: 306,359 (2000 est.)
- Fit for military service, males age 15-49: 154,432 (2000 est.)
Aircraft inventory
The Gambian army operates a single Sukhoi Su-25 FrogfootSukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975...
attack jet. Gambia also has former retired Ukrainian helicopters that are non-functional. Recently, a batch of 4 Gambian soldiers received flying training in the Ukraine. A group captain from Pakistan has also submitted a framework, based on which a new Gambian air force can be established.
Current 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
|-----
| Sukhoi Su-25
Sukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975...
| USSR
| Ground attack aircraft
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Air Tractor AT-802
Air Tractor AT-802
|-Specifications :-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.* Keijsper, Gerard...
| United States
| COIN\CAS Aircraft
|
| 2
|
|-----
| Ilyushin Il-62
Ilyushin Il-62
The Ilyushin Il-62 is a Soviet long-range jet airliner conceived in 1960 by Ilyushin. As successor to the popular turbo-prop Il-18 and with capacity for almost 200 passengers, the Il-62 was the largest jet airliner when it first flew in 1963. It entered Aeroflot service on 15 September 1967 with...
| USSR
| Jet transport\VIP
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
| United Kingdom
| Light transport
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Short Skyvan
| United Kingdom
| Light transport
|
| 1
|
|-----
| SNIAS SA-330 Puma
| France
| Utility Helicopter
|
| 2
|
|-----
External links
- Ravi Rikhye, Gambia, Orbat.com, 2002