Equatorial Guinea military
Index
1. Order of battle
2. Overview
3. Defence economics
4. State of military forces
5. Country threat report
1. Order of Battle
| Total force strength | Army: 1 400 Navy: 200 Air Force: 200 Paramilitary: 2 000 police |
| Army (Guardia Nacional) | |
| Reconnaissance | 6: BRDM-2 |
| AIFV | 20: BMP-1 (received 2007; ex-Czech) |
| APC | 8: BTR-152 |
| Mortar | ?: 82 mm M-43 |
| Rocket launcher | ?: RPG-7 Knout 73 mm |
| Structure | 2 infantry battalions |
| Air Wing | |
| Combat aircraft | 4: Su-25 Frogfoot (delivered 2007-2009 and includes two Su-25UBs) |
| Trainer aircraft | 2: L-39 Albatros |
| Transport aircraft | 2: An-72P (delivered 2009 from Ukraine) 1: Cessna 337 Skymaster 1: An-32B (delivered 2008 from Ukraine) |
| VIP aircraft | 1: Falcon 900 |
| Combat helicopter | 3: Mi-24 Hind |
| Transport helicopter | 2: Enstrom 480B 1: Mi-17 Hip 2: Alouette II 1: Mi-26 (second hand, delivered 2011) 1: Ka-32 (delivered 2010) |
| Navy (Coast Guard) | |
| Patrol/Strike boat (Gun/Missile/OPV/IPV) | 2: Shaldag II (IPV, designated Isla de Corisco and Isla de Annobon) 2: Saar-4 patrol craft (delivered 2011) 1: OPV-88 Reklama (delivered 2012 and designated Bata) 1: Salamandra landing ship (delivered 2009 from China and designated Osa) 2: Kie Ntem class OPVs (delivered from Israel in February 2011) 2: ex-Ukrainian Kalkan class 1: PV-50M patrol craft (delivered in 2008 and designated Estuario de Muni) |
2. Overview
Head of State and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces: President Brigadier General (Ret) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Minister of Defence: General Antonio Mba Nguema
Member of: UN, AU, ICAO, Seabeds Committee
3. Defence economics
Information concerning Equatorial Guinea’s military spending is extremely limited. According to the IISS Military Balance the country spent an estimated $8 million on defence in 2008. Military Technology’s The World Defence Almanac 2012 states that the country spent .1% of its GDP on defence in 2006 (GDP was an estimated $23.82 billion in 2010).
4. State of military forces
Equatorial Guinea is using its substantial oil wealth to rejuvenate and expand its armed forces and has acquired a significant amount of new and second hand equipment over the last decade, particularly for the Navy. As piracy and robbery at sea is a significant threat in the Gulf of Guinea, the country is investing heavily in the Navy to protect its oil installations from these and other security challenges.
In spite of increased military procurement and funding, Equatorial Guinea’s military is considered to be poorly trained, with nepotism determining high-ranking positions in the military and a restrictive centralized structure inhibiting military decision-making.
5. Country threat report
| Threat type | Overview |
| External | • Equatorial Guinea is currently facing no external military threat. • Maritime piracy within the Gulf of Guinea has become an increasing concern in recent years and the country has taken steps to improve its maritime capabilities. |
| Internal | • Equatorial Guinea is currently facing no internal security threat. The country has been prone to military coups in the past, however, and the military is said to be lacking in discipline and professionalism. |
| Regional | • Equatorial Guinea’s direct neighbors are considered to be currently stable. Instability within the Central African Republic may affect the country’s foreign security policy, however. |
| Political | • Equatorial Guinea populace is considered to be politically oppressed. The government has recently, however, taken steps to improve political and social freedom within the country. |
| Economic | • Equatorial Guinea’s economy is largely dependent on revenue generated by off shore oil production and any disruption to this would negatively affect the country’s future growth prospects. |
