Burkina Faso military
Index
1. Order of battle
2. Overview
3. Defence economics
4. State of military forces
5. Country threat report
6. External deployments
1. Order of Battle
| Total force strength | Army: 7 800 Air Force: 600 Gendarmerie: 3 000 National Fire Brigade: 600 Total: 12 000 |
| Army (L’Armee de Terre) | |
| APC/IFV/RECCE | 19: AML-60/90 22: EE-9 Cascavel 22: Ferret 2: M-20 8: M-8 Greyhound 17: Panhard AML |
| Artillery | 8: M-101 105mm (towed) |
| Mortar | 60 mm 81mm Brandt |
| MRL | 4: Type 63 107 mm |
| Structure | Â 5 infantry regiments 1 paratroop regiment 1 armoured battalion 1 engineer battalion 1commando battalion 1 independent artillery unit (some units are changing) |
| Air Force (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso) | |
| Trainer/combat | 3: EMB-314 Super Tucano (delivered September 2011) |
| Transport aircraft | 1: Beech King Air 200 1: Aero Commander 500B 1: Cessna 172 1: Cessna 337 1: HS-748 1: N-262 Fregate 1: CN-235 1: PA-32 Seneca 1: CEAPR Robin 2: Xenon Gyroplane 1: Air Tractor AT-802 |
| VIP aircraft | 1: B-727-200 |
| Combat helicopter | 2: Mi-35 |
| Transport helicopter | 1: SA-316B Alouette III 2: Mi-17 1: AS-350 Ecureuil 2: SA 365N Dauphin |
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2. Burkina Faso military overview
Interim Head of State, Defence Minister and Chief Commander of the Armed Forces: Michel Kafando
Chief of General Staff: General Honore Nabere Traore
Member of: UN, ICAO, GATT, IAEA, AU, Seabeds Committee
3. Burkina Faso defence economics
Defence budget percentage per GDP (2000-2010)
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| DB% per GDP | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
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Defence budget per US$ Mil (2000-2011)
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| DB per US$ Mil | 57.9 | Â 57.1 | 62.0 | 63.0 | 74.9 | 78.2 | Â 84.2 | 104 | 113 | 104 | 124 | 129 |
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Defence budget percentage growth (2000-2011)
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| DB% growth | Â | -1.4 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 18.9 | 4.4 | 7.7 | 23.5 | 8.7 | -8.0 | 19.2 | 4.0 |
4. State of military forces
Burkina Faso is one of Africa’s poorest countries, with per capita GDP standing at around $1 200. The country cannot afford much in the way of new equipment, but recorded its biggest purchase in thirty years when it procured three Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft in September 2011. However, Burkina Faso’s economy has been growing steadily – this has resulted in an increase in defence spending, but much of this goes towards salaries.
Burkina Faso’s air force was until relatively recent incapable of combat but has been undergoing expansion in recent years, receiving two Mi-35s from Russia in 2005 and three Super Tucanos from Brazil in 2011. In spite of the acquisition of combat aircraft, the air arm is geared for border surveillance and similar missions.
Overall, Burkina Faso’s armed forces suffer from obsolete and poorly serviced equipment. The small army is especially affected by a lack of equipment. Between March and June 2011 soldiers (notably the presidential security regiment) staged several riots and mutinies (in part due to poor pay and accommodation), prompting President Blaise Compaore to institute army reforms in September 2011. In order to contain rebellious units, hundreds of soldiers were dismissed while some battalions were removed, relocated or combined.
France has assisted Burkina Faso with training, maintenance and technical assistance and has a permanent assistance mission in the capital Ougadougou. In October 2012 France provided Burkina Faso with three light aircraft (apparently Humbert Aviation Tetras CSLs) and several vehicles to help it monitor its northern border with Mali. In January 2013 Burkina Faso became the first West African nation to send troops to Mali as part of the intervention force there. It has in the past contributed to peacekeeping operations in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
5. Country threat report
| Threat type | Overview |
| External | • Burkina Faso is facing no external military threat. |
| Internal | • Islamist terrorist active in the Maghreb region are known to operate within the country and are held responsible for several kidnappings. |
| Regional | • Insecurity within Cote d’Ivoire and Mali may affect Burkina Faso’s external security policy making. |
| Political | • Burkina Faso is prone to political instability. |
| Economic | • Burkina Faso’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture and mining. |
6. External deployments
| Operation | Country | Personnel/assets |
| Peace building | Mali | 500 |
Note: The information here is as accurate as possible but errors and omissions may occur.
