Armed Forces of Gabon

2025-05-06T22:15:06Z

77.11.161.164: Since 2023 Oyini holds the office.

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox national military
| country = Gabon
| name = Armed Forces of Gabon
| native_name = {{lang|fr|Forces armées gabonaises}}
| image = [[File:Gabonese Coat of arms.svg|180px]]
| alt =
| caption = Gabonese Coat of arms
| image2 =
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| founded = 1960
| current_form =
| branches = [[Gabonese Army|Army]]<ref name="CIA World Fact 2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gabon/|title=CIA World Fact 2015|publisher=cia.gov|year=2015|access-date=4 June 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Gabonese Air Force|Air Force]] [[Gabonese Navy|Navy]] [[National Gendarmerie of Gabon|National Gendarmerie]]
| headquarters = [[Libreville]]
| commander-in-chief = General [[Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[President of Gabon|Commander in Chief]]
| minister = [[Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili]]<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.gabonreview.com/gabon-qui-est-felicite-ongouori-ngoubili-nouvelle-ministre-de-la-defense-nationale/|title= Gabon:Qui est Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili, nouvelle ministre de la Défense nationale?|date=2021-03-09|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Gabon Review|last=Mounombou|first=Stevie}}</ref>
| minister_title = Minister of National Defence
| commander = Colonel [[Aimé-Vivian Oyini]]
| commander_title = Chief of Staff
| age = 20 years of age<ref name="CIA World Fact 2015"/>
| conscription =
| active = 5,000 (2017)
| reserve =
| deployed = 
| amount = $81.52 million (FY17)
| percent_GDP = 0.55% (FY17)
| domestic_suppliers =
| foreign_suppliers = {{flag|France}} {{flag|United States}} {{flag|China}} {{flag|Israel}} {{flag|South Africa}} {{flag|Soviet Union}} (former) {{flag|Belgium}} {{flag|Brazil}} {{flag|Spain}} {{flag|Sweden}} {{flag|Austria}} {{flag|India}}
| imports =
| exports = 
| 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 the Armed Forces of Gabon|Military ranks of Gabon]]
}}
The '''Armed Forces of Gabon''' ({{langx|fr|Forces armées gabonaises}}), officially the '''Gabonese Defense and Security Forces''' ({{langx|fr|forces de défense et de sécurité gabonaises|links=no}}), is the national professional military 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]]. Although the [[President of Gabon]] has authority over all of the armed forces, the [[Ministry of National Defense (Gabon)|Ministry of National Defense]] administers it.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yates |first1=Douglas A. |last2=Gardinier |first2=David E. |title=Historical dictionary of Gabon |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=9781538110119 |edition=Fourth}}</ref>

==Organizational structure==

===Army===
[[File:Exercise Central Accord 2016 kicks-off in Gabon (27628084966) (2).jpg|thumb|Personnel of the Armed Forces stand in formation during the opening day ceremony of the Central Accord Exercise in Libreville.]]

The '''Gabonese Army''' ({{langx|fr|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 [[Léon M'ba]] 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 M'ba promoted the initiative following a visit to [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]], where he met female staff in its [[Israel Defence Forces|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|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 ({{lang|fr|Groupe de Liaison Aérien Ministériel}} or GLAM) at BA01 Libreville with:
** 1 Falcon-900EX
** 1 Gulfstream-III

====Facilities====
* BA01 [[Libreville]]
* BA02 [[Franceville]]
* [[Tchibanga]]

===Navy===
[[File:Tapageuse-01.jpg|thumb|right|The Gabonese Navy uses a [[P400-class patrol vessel]] similar to this one]]
{{Main|Gabonese Navy}}
The '''Gabonese Navy''' ({{langx|fr|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.calameo.com/books/000413241a8504958b100 |title=Calaméo - Marine nationale GABON |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105200905/https://en.calameo.com/books/000413241a8504958b100 |archive-date=2019-01-05 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* Headquarters Staff ([[Libreville]])
* [[Port-Gentil]] Naval Base
* [[Mayumba, Gabon|Mayumba]] Naval Base
* Port-Gentil Aviation Base{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* Marine Rifle Battalion (since 1984)

==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 Gabon|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defense-nationale.gouv.ga/gendarmerie |title=La Gendarmerie Nationale || Ministère de la Défense Nationale |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725225819/http://www.defense-nationale.gouv.ga/gendarmerie |archive-date=2018-07-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gb-gendarmerie.htm |title=Gabon - Gendarmerie Nationale |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201055/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gb-gendarmerie.htm |archive-date=2019-01-05 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.journaldugabon.com/article.php?aid=312 |title=JournalDuGabon.com: La sécurité gabonaise change de visage |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105094220/http://www.journaldugabon.com/article.php?aid=312 |archive-date=2019-01-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Republican Guard===
The Gendarmerie is also in charge of the [[Gabonese Republican Guard|Republican Guard]] ({{langx|fr|Garde républicaine, GR}}).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mondafrique.com/gabon-suite-garde-republicaine-preposee-aux-basses-oeuvres/amp/ |title=Gabon, une "garde républicaine" préposée aux basses oeuvres - Mondafrique |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201038/https://mondafrique.com/gabon-suite-garde-republicaine-preposee-aux-basses-oeuvres/amp/ |archive-date=2019-01-05 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
| [[M16 rifle]]<ref name="jones2009">Jones, Richard D. ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010''. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2869-5}}.</ref>
| [[United States]]
| [[Assault rifle]]
|
|
|-
| [[FN FAL]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[Belgium]]
| [[Battle rifle]]
|
|
|-
| [[FN CAL]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[Belgium]]
| [[Assault rifle]]
|
|
|-
| [[FN MAG]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[Belgium]]
| [[General-purpose machine gun]]
|
|
|-
| [[AK-47]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Assault rifle]]
|
|
|-
| [[AKM]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Assault rifle]]
|
|
|-
| [[RPD machine gun|RPD]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Light machine gun]]
|
|
|-
| [[FAMAS]]<ref name="jones2009"/>
| [[France]]
| [[Assault rifle]]
|
| [[Bullpup]] design
|-
| [[MILAN]]<ref name=IISS>{{cite book |last=[[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]|date=2021|title=The Military Balance|page=466|publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781032012278}}</ref>
| [[France]]
| [[Anti-tank guided missile]]
|
|
|-
| [[M40 recoilless rifle|M40]]<ref name=IISS/>
| [[United States]]
| [[Recoilless rifle]]
| M40A1
|
|}

===Armour===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center! ; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Armored fighting vehicle]]s
|-
| [[Panhard AML|AML-60/AML-90]]
| [[France]]/[[South Africa]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
| 24<ref name=IISS/>
| Including the South African [[Eland armoured car|Eland]] derivative.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Steenkamp | first1=Willem | last2=Helmoed-Römer | first2=Heitman | title=Mobility Conquers: The Story Of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005 | date=September 2016 | page=142 | publisher=Helion & Company | location=Solihull | isbn=978-1-911096-52-8}}</ref>
|-
| [[EE-3 Jararaca]]
| [[Brazil]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
|12<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[EE-9 Cascavel]]
| [[Brazil]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
| 14<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Panhard ERC|ERC-90F4 Sagaie]]
| [[France]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
| 6<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[RAM MK3]]
| [[Israel]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
| 7<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Véhicule Blindé Léger]]
| [[France]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
| 14<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[EE-11 Urutu]]
| [[Brazil]]
| [[Infantry fighting vehicle]]
| 12<ref name=IISS/>
| Armed with 20 mm gun.<ref name=IISS/>
|-
| [[Type 08|VN-1]]
| [[China]]
| [[Infantry fighting vehicle]]
| 5<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Type 07P]]
| [[China]]
| [[Infantry fighting vehicle]]
| 14<ref name="armstrade.sipri.org">{{Cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=Trade Registers|website=armstrade.sipri.org}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Cadillac Gage Commando|V-150 Command]]
| [[United States]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 9<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[ACMAT Bastion|Bastion]]
| [[France]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 5<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[WZ-523]]
| [[China]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 3<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé]]
| [[France]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 5<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Berliet VXB-170|VXB-170]]
| [[France]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 12<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Pandur I]]
| [[Austria]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 1<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army-technology.com/projects/pandur/ |title=Pandur 6×6 Wheeled Armoured Vehicles |publisher=Army Technology}}</ref><ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[ZFB-05]]
| [[China]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 3<ref name="armstrade.sipri.org"/>
|
|-
| [[Nexter Aravis|Aravis]]
| [[France]]
| [[MRAP|Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected]]
| 8<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Matador (mine protected vehicle)|Matador]]
| [[South Africa]]
| [[MRAP|Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected]]
| 24<ref name="armstrade.sipri.org"/>
|
|-
| Ashok Leyland MPV
| [[India]]
| [[MRAP|Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected]]
| 34<ref name=IISS/>
|
|}

===Artillery===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
| [[M101 howitzer|M101]]
| [[United States]]
| [[Howitzer|105 mm towed howitzer]]
| 4<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Type 63 multiple rocket launcher|Type 63]]
| [[China]]
| [[Multiple rocket launcher|107 mm multiple rocket launcher]]
| 16<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[PHL-81|Type 90]]
| [[China]]
| [[Multiple rocket launcher|122 mm multiple rocket launcher]]
| 4<ref name="armstrade.sipri.org"/>
|
|-
| [[Teruel MRL|Teruel]]
| [[Spain]]
| [[Multiple rocket launcher|140 mm multiple rocket launcher]]
| 8<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1|MO-120-RT]]
| [[France]]
| [[Mortar (weapon)|120 mm mortar]]
| 4<ref name=IISS/><ref name="armstrade.sipri.org"/>
|
|}

===Air defense===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
| [[Panhard ERC|ERC-20]]
| [[France]]
| [[Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon|20mm self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon]]
| 4<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[ZPU|ZPU-4]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Anti-aircraft warfare|14.5mm towed anti-aircraft gun]]
| Unknown<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[ZU-23-2]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Anti-aircraft warfare|23 mm towed anti-aircraft gun]]
| 24<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)|M1939]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Anti-aircraft warfare|37 mm towed anti-aircraft gun]]
| 10<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70|L/70]]
| [[Sweden]]
| [[Anti-aircraft warfare|40 mm towed anti-aircraft gun]]
| 3<ref name=IISS/>
|
|}

=== Current inventory ===
{{main|Gabonese Air Force#Current inventory}}

=== Retired aircraft ===
Previous aircraft operated were the [[Fouga CM.170 Magister|CM.170 Magister]], [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante|Embraer EMB 110]], [[Fokker F28 Fellowship|Fokker F28]], [[Aérospatiale N 262]], [[Cessna Skymaster|Reims C.337]], and the [[Alouette II]] helicopter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%202506.html |title=World Air Forces 1987 pg. 56 |publisher= flightglobal.com |date=|accessdate=1 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202091.html |title=World Military Helicopter Markey 1971 pg. 577|publisher= flightglobal.com |date=|accessdate=1 June 2015}}</ref>

===Naval equipment===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Vessel
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|In service
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
| [[Kership]]
|[[France]]
| [[Patrol boat|Offshore patrol]]
|
| 1 on order<ref name="nt">{{Cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newskership-to-deliver-two-offshore-patrol-vessels-to-gabonese-navy-4427093 |title=Kership to deliver two offshore patrol vessels to Gabonese Navy - Naval Technology |date=3 November 2014 |access-date=2014-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107090713/http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newskership-to-deliver-two-offshore-patrol-vessels-to-gabonese-navy-4427093 |archive-date=2014-11-07 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[P400-class patrol vessel|P400]]
|[[France]]
| [[Patrol boat|Coastal patrol]]
| 3<ref name="sipri1">[http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php Trade Registers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |date=2010-04-14 }}. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 29 May 2015</ref>
|
|-
| [[BATRAL-class landing ship|BATRAL]]
|[[France]]
| [[Amphibious warfare ship#Specialized infantry landing craft|Landing craft]]
|1<ref name="sipri1"/>
|2 ordered, only one received
|}

== Ceremonial traditions ==
* In April 2001, then-Defense Minister Bongo visited China, during which he reviewed the [[Beijing Garrison Honor Guard Battalion|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 [[Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/200405/21/eng20040521_143989.html|title=People's Daily Online -- PLA helps traing [sic] honor guard for Gabon|website=en.people.cn|access-date=2020-05-10|archive-date=2022-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326090352/http://en.people.cn/200405/21/eng20040521_143989.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.cn/misc/2009-09/29/content_1429235.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012211510/http://www.gov.cn/misc/2009-09/29/content_1429235.htm|url-status=dead|title=Gabon's Communication minister appreciates good Gabono-Chinese relations|archive-date=2019-10-12|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comitedesfetes-saumur.fr/musiques-et-artistes-invites-2019-p71.html|title=Festival international de Musiques militaires Saumur 2019; Musiques et artistes invités 2019|website=www.comitedesfetes-saumur.fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206055039/http://www.comitedesfetes-saumur.fr/musiques-et-artistes-invites-2019-p71.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-02-06|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Military of Africa}}
{{Gabon topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Of Gabon}}
[[Category:Government of Gabon]]
[[Category:Military of Gabon]]

Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Armed Forces of Gabon