Senegalese armed forces
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: 11 900 Air Force: 770 Navy: 950 Paramilitary: 5000 |
| Army | |
| Reconnaissance | 52: AML-60/90 10: M-8 4: M-20 12: VXB-170 (Gendarmerie) |
| APC | 12: M-3 Panhard 10: M-3 half-tracks 8: Casspir 26: Ratel-20 12: Gila (for police) |
| Artillery | 6: HM-2 105 mm 6: M116 75 mm pack 6: M101A1 105 mm 6: Mod 50 155 mm 8: TR-F-1 155 mm |
| Mortar | 8: 81 mm 8: 120 mm |
| Anti-armour | 4: Milan 31: LRAC 89 mm STRIM-89 |
| Rocket launcher | ?: RPG-7 Knout 73 mm |
| Air defence gun | 21: M-693 20 mm 12: L-60 40 mm |
| Structure | Army Staff with 2 Divisions (Operations and Logistics) |
| Air Force | |
| Maritime/EW/RECCE aircraft | 1: C212 (SAR) 2: King Air 200 (Used for weather reconnaissance) 4: Rallye 235 Guerrier 1: Embraer EMB-111 1: PA-23 (liaison) 1: BN-2 Islander (for maritime patrol) |
| Trainer aircraft | 2: TB-30 Epsilon 3: Super Tucano (on order) |
| Transport aircraft | 1: CN235 1: F27 Friendship 1: Boeing 727-200 (VIP) 1: C212 |
| Combat helicopter | 2: Mi-35P Hind |
| Transport helicopter | 1: AS-355 Twin Squirrel 2: Mi-2 Hoplite 2: Mi-171 Hip 1: SA 341 Gazelle 2: SA 330 Puma 1: UH-1H |
| Structure | Air Staff with 2 Divisions (Operations and Logistics), Support Group, Air Operations Group, Air School |
| Navy | |
| Patrol/Strike boat (Gun/Missile/OPV/IPV) | 1: Fouta class large patrol boat (Osprey-55 type) 2: Saint Louis class 1: Njambour class large patrol boat (PR72MS type) 2: Alioune Samb class (ex-US Swift class) 2: Alphonse Baye (RPB 20SE, Fishery Protection Directorate) 1: Senegal 2 2: Popenguine large inshore patrol boats (P48 type) 3: Senegal class patrol craft 2: Peterson-type patrol boats 4: police launches 2: Challenge class (Tracker-type coastal patrol craft) 1: Conejera patrol craft (ex-Spanish) 1: Raidco RPB 33 |
| Amphibious/Transport/Supply | 2: Edic 700 class (Transport, ex-French) |
| Structure | Navy Staff and 3 Crops (Naval Operations Group, Naval Support Group, Riverine Surveillance Group) |
2. Overview
Head of State: President Macky Sall
Prime Minister: Aminata Toure
Minister of Defence: Augustin Tine
Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces: Major General Mamadou Sow
Chief of Staff of the Army: Brigadier General Papa Samba Kamara
Chief of Staff of the Navy: Rear Admiral Cheikh Bara Cissoko
Chief of Staff of the Air Force: General Ousmane Kane
High Commander of the Gendarmerie: Div Gen Abdoulaye Fall
Member of: UN, AU, AfDB, IAEA, ICAO, Seabeds Committee, etc.
Conscription: 24 months (selective)
3. Defence economics
Defence budget percentage per GDP (2000-2010)
Defence budget per US$ Mil (2000-2011)
Defence budget percentage growth (2000-2011)
4. State of military forces
Over the last several years, Senegal’s military has been modernizing, receiving new and second hand equipment for its army, air force and navy, with more on the way. For instance, in April 2013 the country signed an MoU with Brazil’s Emgepron for the possible sale of two patrol boats, and ordered three Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft from Embraer.
Senegal has been a symbol of democracy as well as ethnic and religious tolerance, especially as the military has a history of not interfering with the political process. The country has contributed to regional peacekeeping operations. However, it faces internal threats to its stability due to a growing youth population, limited employment prospects, increasing urbanization, weak private sector investment, and the gradual erosion of good governance and transparency.
Nevertheless, Senegal’s military is considered to be relatively well trained and disciplined. It works well with the government in areas such as preventive healthcare, infrastructure development, environmental protection, disaster response and border management.
Senegal’s military receives training and support from foreign partners, such as the United States, France and Germany. Such training focuses on counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, maritime security, military professionalization and peacekeeping training – thousands of peacekeepers have been trained by the United States. Indeed, Senegal is a major contributor of peacekeepers and in the past has been involved in resolving security problems amongst its neighbours.
5. Country threat report
| Threat type | Overview |
| External | • Senegal is currently facing no external military threat although militant forces in the regions such as the Mali based AQIM have threatened to attack Senegal following the country’s involvement in the Malian conflict in 2013. |
| Internal | • Although violence in Senegal’s Casamance region has been reduced following negotiations between the Senegalese government and rebel forces in late 2012 security in the region remains a concern. |
| Regional | • The security situation in neighboring Mali and Mauritania may affect Senegal’s foreign security policy. • Senegal is a major drug trafficking hub, especially |
| Political | • Senegal is currently considered to be politically stable. |
| Economic | • Senegal’s economy is highly dependent on its agricultural sector and any fluctuations in international agricultural prices will negatively affect the country’s economy. |
6. External deployments
| Operation | Country | Personnel/assets |
| Peacekeeping | Haiti (MINUSTAH) | Police: 151 |
| Peacekeeping | DRC (MONUSCO) | Police: 277 Experts on Mission: 12 Troops: 11 |
| Peacekeeping | Darfur/Sudan (UNAMID) | Police: 300 Experts on Mission: 19 Troops: 795 |
| Peacekeeping | Liberia (UNMIL) | Police: 1 Troops: 2 |
| Peacekeeping | South Sudan (UNMISS) | Police: 4 Experts on Mission: 2 Troops: 2 |
| Peacekeeping | Cote D’Ivoire(UNOCI) | Police: 23 Experts on Mission: 12 Troops: 495 |
Contact
Ministry of Armed Forces
Administrative Building
PO Box 176
Dakar
Senegal
Tel +221231088/225613
Fax +221231705
