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Revision as of 12:29, 30 August 2023

Armed Forces of Gabon
Forces armées gabonaises
Gabonese Coat of arms
Founded1960
Service branchesArmy[1]
Air Force
Navy
National Gendarmerie
HeadquartersLibreville
Leadership
Commander in ChiefVacant
Minister of National DefenceFélicité Ongouori Ngoubili[2]
Chief of StaffJean Claude Ella-Ekogha
Personnel
Military age20 years of age[1]
Active personnel5,000 (2017)
Expenditure
Budget$81.52 million (FY17)
Percent of GDP0.55% (FY17)
Industry
Foreign suppliersFrance
United States
Related articles
History1964 Gabonese coup d'état
Central African Republic Civil War
2019 Gabonese coup d'état attempt
2023 Gabonese coup d'état
RanksMilitary ranks of Gabon

The Armed Forces of Gabon (French: Forces armées gabonaises) or the Gabonese Defense and Security Forces (French: forces de défense et de sécurité gabonaises) is the national professional military of the Republic of Gabon, divided into the Army, Air Force, Navy, and a National Gendarmerie, consisting of about 5,000 personnel. The armed forces includes a well-trained, well-equipped 1,800-member guard that provides security for the President of Gabon.

Organizational structure

Army

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 land component of the armed forces, specializing in infantry and mechanized reconnaissance. It was created on December 6, 1960 by decree of president Leon Mba from non-commissioned officers who served in the French colonial army, mainly the 2nd company of the 21st BIMA. Following independence, Gabon signed defense agreements with France, mainly on technical assistance and training. Until June 1964, the title of Chief of Staff of the Gabonese Armed Forces was held by a senior French Army officer. In 1962 a detachment of the Auxiliary Women of the Gabonese Armed Forces (AFFAG), commanded by Lieutenant Ba Oumar at the military camp of Owendo, was created. President Mba promoted the initiative following a visit to Tel Aviv, Israel, where he met female staff in its Defense Forces.

Order of battle

  • Republican Guard Battalion (Libreville)
      • 1 Light Armoured recon unit
    • 3 Infantry companies
      • 1 Artillery battery
    • 1 Air Defence battery
  • Airborne Regiment
    • 1 Command company
    • 1 Recon & Support company
    • 3 Airborne companies
  • 1 Light Armoured Recon Battalion
    • 2 Armoured squads
    • 1 Command & Logistics company
  • Support Command Regiment
    • 1 Artillery battery
    • 1 Mortar battery
    • 1 MRLS battery (8 Teruel MRL)
    • 1 Engineer company
    • Logistic units
  • 7 Military Regions
    • 7 Motorised infantry battalions (1 battalion for each region)

Air Force

Main article: Gabonese Air Force

Order of battle

  • Fighter Squadron 1-02 Leyou at BA02 Franceville with:
    • Mirage F-1AZ
    • MB-326M Impala I
  • Heavy Transport Squadron at BA01 Libreville with:
    • C-130 Hercules
    • CN-235
  • Ministerial Air Liaison Group (Groupe de Liaison Aérien Ministériel or GLAM) at BA01 Libreville with:
    • 1 Falcon-900EX
    • 1 Gulfstream-III

Facilities

The Gabonese Navy uses a P400-class patrol vessel similar to this one
Main article: Gabonese Navy

The Gabonese Navy (French: Marine Nationale du Gabon) is the official maritime branch of the armed forces. It was created in December 1960 as part of the army, and only became an independent entity in 1983. The navy's core purpose is to monitor the country's coastal waters, including 800 km of coastline.[3]

Other security forces

National Gendarmerie

The National Gendarmerie of Gabon (Gendarmerie nationale gabonaise) is the national police force of Gabon responsible for law enforcement in the country. It was formed on March 10, 1960 when Gabon, formerly French Equatorial Africa, gained its independence from France. It originated from Libreville Gendarmerie Detachment 1929, which was commanded by Governor General of French Equatorial Africa, Félix Eboue. The main tasks of the gendarmerie are to defend the country's borders, ensure public safety, and to enforce actions taken by judicial and government authorities. The National Gendarmerie is under the direct command of the President of Gabon.[4][5][6]

Republican Guard

The Gendarmerie is also in charge of the Republican Guard (French: Garde républicaine, GR).[7] It is viewed as the most powerful and sophisticated of the security forces. It is primarily tasked with protecting the president and ensures regime stability.

Equipment

Small arms

Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
MAC 50[8] 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol  France
Manurhin MR 73[9] .357 Magnum Revolver  France
Submachine guns
MAT-49[8] 9×19mm Submachine gun  France
Uzi[8] 9×19mm Submachine gun  Israel
Beretta M12[10] 9×19mm Submachine gun  Italy
Sterling L2[8] 9×19mm Submachine gun  United Kingdom
Rifles
AKM[8] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle  Soviet Union
Type 56[8] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle  China
Type 81[11] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle  China
FAMAS[8] 5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle 		 France
M16[8] 5.56×45mm Assault rifle  United States
FN CAL[8] 5.56×45mm Assault rifle  Belgium
FN FAL[8] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle  Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[8] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle  West Germany
 France 		French-made G3s
SIG SG 540[8] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Switzerland
MAS-36[12][13] 7.5×54mm Bolt-action rifle  France
MAS-49/56[12] 7.5×54mm Semi-automatic rifle  France
Machine guns
AA-52[8] 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun  France
FN MAG[8] 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun  Belgium
Browning M1919[8] 7.62×51mm Medium machine gun  United States
Browning M2[8] .50 BMG Heavy machine gun  United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
LRAC F1[14] 89mm Shoulder-launched missile weapon  France
Grenade launchers
M203[8] 40×46mm SR Grenade launcher  United States

Anti-tank weapons

Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
MILAN[15] Anti-tank missile  France
 West Germany
M40[15] Recoilless rifle  United States 105mm

Anti-aircraft weapons

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
ERC-20 Kriss SPAAG  France 4[15] INS
Bofors L/70 Autocannon  Sweden 3[15] INS
61-K Autocannon  Soviet Union 10[15] INS
ZPU-4 Anti-aircraft gun  Soviet Union 14[15] INS
ZU-23-2 Autocannon  Soviet Union 24[15] INS

Artillery

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Rocket artillery
Type 63 Multiple rocket launcher  China 16[15] INS
PHL-81 File:MA-Type-81-MLR.jpg Multiple rocket launcher  China 4[16] INS
Teruel Multiple rocket launcher  Spain 8[15] INS
Field artillery
M101 Howitzer  United States 4[15] INS
Mortars
MO-120-RT-61 Towed mortar  France 4[15][16] INS

Scout cars

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
EE-3 Jararaca Scout car  Brazil 12[15] INS
Panhard VBL Scout car  France 14[15] INS

Infantry fighting vehicles

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
VN-1 Infantry fighting vehicle  China 5[15] INS
Type 07P Infantry fighting vehicle  China 14[16] INS

Armored personnel carriers

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Panhard M3 Armoured personnel carrier  France 7[16] INS
ZFB-05 Armored personnel carrier  China 3[16] INS
WZ-551 Armored personnel carrier  China Unknown[15] INS
WZ-523 Armored personnel carrier  China 3[15] INS
EE-11 Urutu Amphibious Armored personnel carrier  Brazil 12[15] INS Armed with 20mm gun.
Cadillac Gage Commando Armored personnel carrier  United States 9[15] INS
Berliet VXB-170 Armoured personnel carrier  France 12[15] INS
VAB Armoured personnel carrier  France 5[15] INS
ACMAT Bastion Armored personnel carrier  France 5[15] INS
Nexter Aravis Infantry mobility vehicle  France 12[15] INS
Pandur I Armored personnel carrier  Spain 1[15] INS

Reconnaissance

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
ERC-90 Sagaie Armored car  France 6[15] INS
Panhard AML Armored car  France 24[15] INS
Eland-90 Armored car  South Africa 8[17] INS
RAM MK3 Armored Car  Israel 7[15] INS
EE-9 Cascavel Armored Car  Brazil 14[15] INS

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Matador MRAP  South Africa 24[16] INS
Ashok Leyland MPV MRAP  India 34[15] INS

Current inventory

A Gabonses ATR-42 on approach
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Mirage F1 France fighter 6[18]
Transport
ATR 42 France / Italy VIP 1[19]
CASA CN-235 Spain / Indonesia transport 1[18]
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130H 1[18]
Helicopters
Alouette III France light utility 2[18]
SA342 Gazelle France scout / attack 3[18]
Eurocopter AS332 France transport 1[18]
Aérospatiale SA 330 France transport / utility 5[18]
Eurocopter EC135 France utility 2[18]
Eurocopter EC120 France light utility 2[18]

Retired aircraft

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the CM.170 Magister, C-130H Hercules, Embraer EMB 110, Fokker F28, Aérospatiale N 262, Reims C.337, and the Alouette II helicopter.[20][21]


Vessel Origin Type In service Notes
Kership France Offshore patrol 1 on order[22]
P400 France Coastal patrol 3[23]
BATRAL France Landing craft 1[23] 2 ordered, only one received

Ceremonial traditions

  • In April 2001, then-Defense Minister Bongo visited China, during which he reviewed the PLA honor guard upon arrival, and proposed to his Chinese counterpart Chi Haotian that members of the battalion will go to Gabon to help set up and train professional ceremonial units in the Gabonese military. In March 2003, after just under three years, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense sent four officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Wang Yuanjing to Libreville by the end of November of that year, after which they stayed to train the Gabonese guard of honour for more than six months.[24][25]
  • The Principal Music Band of the Gabonese Defense Forces was created in 2010. It brings together elements of the Band of the National Gendarmerie, the Armed Forces and the Prytanée militaire de Libreville. It has a staff of 50 professional currently directed by Captain Jean-Baptiste Rabimbinongo. Its conductor, Lieutenant Léa Nzoufa Nze, was the first woman to conduct a military band to the Saumur International Festival of Military Bands. It takes part in many official ceremonies such as National Flag Day and the military parade marking the country's independence.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b "CIA World Fact 2015". cia.gov. 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  2. ^ Mounombou, Stevie (2021-03-09). "Gabon:Qui est Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili, nouvelle ministre de la Défense nationale?". Gabon Review. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  3. ^ "Calaméo - Marine nationale GABON". Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  4. ^ "La Gendarmerie Nationale || Ministère de la Défense Nationale". Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  5. ^ "Gabon - Gendarmerie Nationale". Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  6. ^ "JournalDuGabon.com: La sécurité gabonaise change de visage". Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  7. ^ "Gabon, une "garde républicaine" préposée aux basses oeuvres - Mondafrique". Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  9. ^ Hogg, Ian (1989). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1989-90, 15th Edition. Jane's Information Group. pp. 826–836. ISBN 0-7106-0889-6.
  10. ^ Gander, Jerry (2002). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. Jane's Information Group. pp. 214, 899–906. ISBN 0-7106-2434-4.
  11. ^ Cpl. Alexander Mitchell (2016-11-24). "Gabon, U.S. train to fight illicit activity". Defande Video Imagery Distribution System. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  12. ^ a b "Post-WWII use of the MAS-36 rifle: Part II (export users)". wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com. 2015-08-23. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  13. ^ Jowett, Philip (2016). Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Press. ISBN 978-1472816092.
  14. ^ Shea, Dan (February 2010). "LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher". Small Arms Review. Vol. 13, no. 5. Archived from the original on 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 466. ISBN 9781032012278.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
  17. ^ Steenkamp, Willem; Helmoed-Römer, Heitman (September 2016). Mobility Conquers: The Story Of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005. Solihull: Helion & Company. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-911096-52-8.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  19. ^ "ATR42 Gabon TR-KJD". airport-data.com flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  20. ^ "World Air Forces 1987 pg. 56". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  21. ^ "World Military Helicopter Markey 1971 pg. 577". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  22. ^ "Kership to deliver two offshore patrol vessels to Gabonese Navy - Naval Technology". Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
  23. ^ a b Trade Registers Archived 2010-04-14 at the Wayback Machine. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 29 May 2015
  24. ^ "People's Daily Online -- PLA helps traing [sic] honor guard for Gabon". en.people.cn.
  25. ^ "Gabon's Communication minister appreciates good Gabono-Chinese relations". Archived from the original on 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  26. ^ "Festival international de Musiques militaires Saumur 2019; Musiques et artistes invités 2019". www.comitedesfetes-saumur.fr. Archived from the original on 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
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