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Armed Forces of Gabon
Forces armées gabonaises
Gabonese Coat of arms.svg
Gabonese Coat of arms
Established 1960
Parts Army
Air Force
Navy
National Gendarmerie
Headquarters Libreville
Leadership
Commander in Chief General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema
Minister of National Defence Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili
Chief of Staff Jean Claude Ella-Ekogha
Serving soldiers
Military age 20 years of age
Active employees/soldiers 5,000 (2017)
Expenditures
Budget $81.52 million (FY17)
Percent of GDP 0.55% (FY17)
Industry
Suppliers from
foreign countries
France
United States
See also
History 1964 Gabonese coup d'état
Central African Republic Civil War
2019 Gabonese coup d'état attempt
2023 Gabonese coup d'état
Ranks Military ranks of Gabon

The Armed Forces of Gabon (French: Forces armées gabonaises) are the national military of Gabon. They are also known as the Gabonese Defense and Security Forces. This group protects the country and its people. It includes the Army, Air Force, Navy, and a special police force called the National Gendarmerie. About 5,000 people serve in these forces. There is also a well-trained guard of 1,800 members. Their main job is to keep the President of Gabon safe.

How Gabon's Military Is Organized

The Gabonese Army: Protecting the Land

Exercise Central Accord 2016 kicks-off in Gabon (27628084966) (2)
Personnel of the Armed Forces stand in formation during the opening day ceremony of the Central Accord Exercise in Libreville.

The Gabonese Army (French: Armée de terre gabonaise) is the part of the military that fights on land. They are good at infantry (soldiers who fight on foot) and scouting with vehicles. The Army started on December 6, 1960. This was soon after Gabon became independent from France. Many of its first members were soldiers who had served in the French colonial army.

After gaining independence, Gabon and France signed agreements. These agreements helped Gabon with military training and support. Until 1964, a French Army officer was in charge of Gabon's armed forces. In 1962, a group of women joined the Gabonese Armed Forces. This happened after President M'ba visited Israel and saw women serving in their military.

Army Units and Their Roles

The Army has several important units:

  • Republican Guard Battalion in Libreville: This unit has light armored vehicles and infantry companies. It also has artillery and air defense.
  • Airborne Regiment: These soldiers can be dropped from the air. They have a command company, a support company, and airborne companies.
  • Light Armored Recon Battalion: This unit uses armored vehicles to scout ahead.
  • Support Command Regiment: This group provides artillery, mortars, and rocket launchers. They also have engineers and logistics units to help other parts of the army.
  • 7 Military Regions: Each region has its own motorized infantry battalion.

The Gabonese Air Force: Guarding the Skies

The Air Force protects Gabon from the air. It uses different types of aircraft for various missions.

Air Force Units and Bases

  • Fighter Squadron 1-02 Leyou at BA02 Franceville: This squadron uses fighter jets like the Mirage F-1AZ.
  • Heavy Transport Squadron at BA01 Libreville: This group flies large planes like the C-130 Hercules. They carry troops and supplies.
  • Ministerial Air Liaison Group (GLAM) at BA01 Libreville: This unit uses special planes for government officials.

The main Air Force bases are:

The Gabonese Navy: Protecting the Coasts

Tapageuse-01
The Gabonese Navy uses a P400-class patrol vessel similar to this one

The Gabonese Navy (French: Marine Nationale du Gabon) is the part of the military that works on the sea. It started in December 1960 as part of the army. In 1983, it became its own separate branch. The Navy's main job is to watch over Gabon's coastal waters. This includes 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) of coastline.

Navy Bases and Units

  • Headquarters Staff in Libreville
  • Port-Gentil Naval Base
  • Mayumba Naval Base
  • Port-Gentil Aviation Base
  • Marine Rifle Battalion (since 1984)

Other Important Security Forces

The National Gendarmerie: Keeping Law and Order

The National Gendarmerie of Gabon (Gendarmerie nationale gabonaise) is Gabon's national police force. It helps keep law and order throughout the country. It was formed on March 10, 1960, when Gabon became independent from France. The Gendarmerie's main jobs are to protect the country's borders and keep people safe. They also help carry out decisions made by the government. The President of Gabon is directly in charge of the National Gendarmerie.

The Republican Guard: Protecting the President

The Gendarmerie also oversees the Republican Guard (French: Garde républicaine, GR). This is seen as a very strong and advanced security force. Its main duty is to protect the president. It also helps keep the country stable.

Military Equipment

Small Arms for Soldiers

Name Origin Type Variant
M16 rifle United States Assault rifle
FN FAL Belgium Battle rifle
FN CAL Belgium Assault rifle
FN MAG Belgium General-purpose machine gun
AK-47 Soviet Union Assault rifle
AKM Soviet Union Assault rifle
RPD Soviet Union Light machine gun
FAMAS France Assault rifle
MILAN France Anti-tank guided missile
M40 United States Recoilless rifle M40A1

Armored Vehicles for Protection

Name Origin Type In Service
Armored fighting vehicles
AML-60/AML-90 France/South Africa Reconnaissance vehicle 24
EE-3 Jararaca Brazil Reconnaissance vehicle 12
EE-9 Cascavel Brazil Reconnaissance vehicle 14
ERC-90F4 Sagaie France Reconnaissance vehicle 6
RAM MK3 Israel Reconnaissance vehicle 7
Véhicule Blindé Léger France Reconnaissance vehicle 14
EE-11 Urutu Brazil Infantry fighting vehicle 12
VN-1 China Infantry fighting vehicle 5
Type 07P China Infantry fighting vehicle 14
V-150 Command United States Armoured personnel carrier 9
Bastion France Armoured personnel carrier 5
WZ-523 China Armoured personnel carrier 3
Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé France Armoured personnel carrier 5
VXB-170 France Armoured personnel carrier 12
Pandur I Austria Armoured personnel carrier 1
ZFB-05 China Armoured personnel carrier 3
Aravis France Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected 8
Matador South Africa Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected 24
Ashok Leyland MPV India Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected 34

Artillery for Long-Range Attacks

Name Origin Type In Service
M101 United States 105 mm towed howitzer 4
Type 63 China 107 mm multiple rocket launcher 16
Type 90 China 122 mm multiple rocket launcher 4
Teruel Spain 140 mm multiple rocket launcher 8
MO-120-RT France 120 mm mortar 4

Air Defense Systems

Name Origin Type In Service
ERC-20 France 20mm self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon 4
ZPU-4 Soviet Union 14.5mm towed anti-aircraft gun Unknown
ZU-23-2 Soviet Union 23 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 24
M1939 Soviet Union 37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 10
L/70 Sweden 40 mm towed anti-aircraft gun 3

Current Air Force Planes and Helicopters

Retired Aircraft

Gabon's Air Force used to fly other aircraft. These include the Fouga CM.170 Magister, Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante, Fokker F28 Fellowship, Aérospatiale N 262, Reims C.337, and the Alouette II helicopter.

Naval Ships and Boats

Vessel Origin Type In service
Kership France Offshore patrol
P400 France Coastal patrol 3
BATRAL France Landing craft 1

Military Traditions and Music

Gabon's military has special traditions. In 2001, Gabon's Defense Minister visited China. He saw China's honor guard. He asked China to help train a similar ceremonial unit in Gabon. Chinese officers came to Gabon in 2003. They trained Gabon's honor guard for over six months.

The main music band of the Gabonese Defense Forces started in 2010. It includes musicians from the National Gendarmerie and the Armed Forces. The band has 50 professional musicians. They perform at important events. These include National Flag Day and the military parade for Independence Day. A woman, Lieutenant Léa Nzoufa Nze, was the first woman to lead a military band at a big international festival.

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