Military of the Gambia

The Gambian National Army ( GNA ) ( Gambian armed forces) that exists in the present form since amendment of the Constitution in 1996, is a 800 man (according to other sources 1,900 men) strong army of the West African state of Gambia. It is under the Gambian Ministry of Defence ( the Department of State for Defense ), which is subordinate to the president, and he is so supreme commander of the Armed Forces ( Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces). A conscription does not exist.

Support

The training and technical assistance was initially supports up to the coup of 1994 by the British, and later by Nigerian military. But the United States, China and Turkey had cooperated with the Gambian National Army.

After 1994, the GNA has worked with the military, Turkey and Libya.

Outline and Features

Gambian National Army is divided into:

  • Two infantry battalions ( infantry battalion )
  • A pioneering company ( engineers' squadron )
  • The Gambia Navy ( GN) This unit consists of 70 men and operates with four patrol boats in coastal waters of the 80km of coastline.
  • Gambia National Guard ( GNG ) The Gambia National Guard also includes the Presidential Guard ( the Presidential Guard ).
  • Gambia Air Wing ( GAW) This unit operates a Soviet Sukhoi Su-25 " Frogfoot ", this attack aircraft originally from Georgia.

Budget

The share of government expenditure on defense is five parts per thousand of GDP ( 2006 estimate ). Thus Gambia is among the states with the lowest military spending worldwide.

History

We avoided any immediate with preservation of independence from the United Kingdom on a costly professional army, because due to the gambian - Senegalese - defense agreement from 1965 Senegalese troops could help. They had only a 750 -strong police unit and a half as many heads counting Field Force.

The defense agreement was also used with averted coup of 30 July 1981. Following was the paramilitary Field Force, who was involved in the coup with partly dissolved and Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement which provided, among others, the unification of the armed forces in the Senegambia Confederation. Gambia to build a small army of 200 men on first, the army, navy and air force includes. Next, there was a 700 -strong military police.

The Confederacy was until 30 September 1989 when the Gambia exited the covenant. Senegalese troops were previously withdrawn from Gambia.

In Liberia, Gambia is engaged in one of the West African Economic Community ( ECOWAS) led ECOWAS peacekeeping force. As the Gambian soldiers returning from the Liberian civil war, there were violent protests over unpaid allowances front. The commander of the army resigned because of the protests and a Nigerian was determined to succeed. With Nigeria in early 1992, a bilateral defense agreement was signed.

On 22 July 1994 requested again from service in Nigeria returning soldiers their front allowances. They were disarmed by their Nigerian officers who were ready to receive President Dawda Jawaras at the airport. In Banjul followed protests by soldiers, they occupied the telecommunications center, the airport and other strategic points. The 29 -year-old Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh as a leader of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council ( AFPRC ) deposed Jawara of his office and the rebels paralyzed all political activities. Jammeh declared himself president of the Republic.

The Gambia National Gendarmerie segregated unit ( GNG ), which was temporarily called Tactical Support Unit, was merged following the coup in 1994 with the other units.

The first female officer in the rank of general is Ramatoulie DK Sanneh. On May 11, 2011, she was charged by the rank of colonel in the of brigadier general.

Inserts

Parts of the armed forces have participated in numerous peacekeeping operations. For example, at the ECOWAS Monitoring Group and the AU led mission African Union Mission in Sudan ( AMIS) they were involved.

More investments in foreign operations:

  • United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea ( UNMEE)
  • United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL )
  • United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL )
  • United Nations Operation in Côte d' Ivoire ( UNOCI )

Sports

The Armed Forces Football Club is also represented in the highest Gambian football class, the GFA League First Division. They have won in the 2002/03 season the championship.

Gambian constitutional referendum, 1996 Volunteer military The Daily Observer
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