The Cameroon Armed Forces (French: Forces armées camerounaises (FAC)) are the military of the Republic of Cameroon. The armed forces number 40,000[citation needed] personnel in ground, air, and naval forces. There are approximately 40,000 troops in the army across three military regions. Approximately 1,300 troops are part of the Cameroonian Navy, which is headquartered at Douala. Under 600 troops are part of the Air Force. There is an additional 12,500 paramilitary troops that serve as a gendarmerie (policing force) or reconnaissance role.[1]
The Cameroonian armed forces have bases spread all over Cameroon, including in Ngaoundéré. Air Force bases are located in Garoua, Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda.
It has generally remained loyal to the government and acted to ensure the stability of the regime, and not acted as an independent political force.[3][4] Traditional dependence on the French defense capability, although reduced, continues to be the case as French military advisers remain closely involved in preparing the Cameroonian forces for deployment to the contested Bakassi Peninsula.
"China has an ongoing military-military relationship with Cameroon, which includes training for Cameroonian military students each year in China, technical advisors to assist in repairing Cameroonian military vehicles and naval vessels, and Chinese military sales."[5]
With over 40,000 troops the Army remains the most important component in terms of numbers.[6] The Army is under the responsibility of the Chief of Staff, Major-General Nkoa Atenga, whose staff is in Yaoundé.
Currently the organization dates from 2001 with a distribution in several types of units: combat units, response units (unités d'intervention), unités de soutien et d'appui, and finally special reserve units as part of 3 joint military régions (interarmées) and the 10 military land sectors.[7]
Army units have been trained and equipped to fight in the swampy coastal terrain facing the Bakassi peninsula. Although prepared for an armed conflict with Nigeria in recent years, the Cameroon Army does not have operational experience against other forces, therefore, it is not possible to assess its ability to respond to changing threats and opposing tactics.
The Headquarters Brigade, located in Yaoundé. This brigade is responsible for protecting the capital and supporting the institutions. The President of the Republic has to allow any of its deployments.
The Rapid Response Brigade (Cameroon) [de; fr] (Brigade d'Intervention Rapide, or also BIR), (which currently has no general staff) and is made up of three rapid response battalions, stationed in Douala, Tiko and Koutaba. These three battalions are respectively the Special Amphibious Battalion (Bataillon Spécial Amphibie; BSA), the Bataillon des Troupes Aéroportées (BTAP), and the Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Bataillon Blindé de Reconnaissance; BBR) equipped with Type 07P infantry fighting vehicle and PTL-02 tank destroyer bought recently from China.[9] The BSA is inspired by the French Special Forces. This brigade is a tactical battle unit under the authority of the Chief of Staff of the armed forces. For this to be engaged, the President’s agreement is necessary.[citation needed]
Five motorised infantry brigades, supposed to be stationed in one military sector but which can then be engaged without any regard to the territorial division of the country. These brigades currently do not have a general staff. In theory, they consist of 11 motorised infantry battalions; 5 support battalions and 3 backing battalions; however, the motorised battalions are in reality not operational due to a lack of staff, equipment and vehicles.
The air force has bases in Garoua, Koutaba, Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda. The Cameroonian Air Force was founded in 1960, the year of independence from France. There are under 400 troops in the air force.[1] Cameroon's Air Force has 9 combat-capable aircraft.[1]
Cameroon Navy
Cameroonian sailors reviewed by an American admiral in Douala, 2015.
There are about 1,300 troops in the navy including naval infantry.[1]
History
Around May 1999, Philip Njaru wrote a newspaper article where he alleged ill-treatment of civilians conducted by the 21st Navy Battalion based in Ekondo-Titi. In late May Njaru was approached by the local captain who asked Njaru "to stop writing such articles and to disclose his sources". Refusing to do this, Njaru five days later found his house encircled by armed soldiers, and escaped to Kumba.[16] Here, he was assaulted by police in June 2001, with no particular reason stated.[16] Njaru complained to the local authorities, but later learned that "his complaint had not been received".[16]
Cameroon's Marine Nationale République modernised and increased its capabilities during 2000 with the acquisition of a number of small Rodman patrol craft and the retirement of some small older craft. A number of small patrol boats have been acquired or ordered from France. Latest estimates indicate naval strength consists of two combat patrol vessels, three coastal patrol vessels and approximately 30 smaller inshore and river patrol craft allocated to both the navy and the local gendarmerie. These include two 135 tonne Yunnan-class landing craft, which are able to carry and launch smaller craft for troop insertions. Some effort has been made to assess equipment needs to bring L'Audacieux P103 and Bakassi P104 to an effective combat status. This has resulted in weapons capabilities being reduced in favour of an increase in serviceability and the service is now effectively without missile attack capabilities. Bakassi (a Type P 48S missile patrol craft) completed a major refit at Lorient, France in August 1999. This included removing the Exocet missile system and EW equipment, and fitting a funnel aft of the mainmast to replace the waterline exhausts. New radars were also installed. Bakassi is now armed only with 40 mm cannon. Although the Bizerte (P48 large patrol craft) class L'Audacieux is fitted for SS-12M missiles these are not embarked and its operational status is in some doubt, having not been reported at sea since 1995. The Quartier-Maître Alfred Moto patrol boat was listed as out of service in 1991 but has since been reactivated.
Ships
Cameroon Navy patrol boat during a military parade in Douala, 2019
Two 32-metre patrol boats are expected to be delivered in February 2014.[17]
Gendarmerie
The Gendarmerie is a paramilitary force composed of about 9,000 soldiers as of 2016. It performs both law enforcement and national security responsibilities across the country. (See Gendarmerie)
Military education
After an initial period of development, training requirements were formalized in an April 1967 per government decree. There was a shortage of Cameroonian instructors at that time. The two educational institutions of the nation are the following:
Combined Services Military Academy (Ecole Militaire Interarmes Camerounaises—EMIAC): It is the interforce academy for officers, being the educational center for future officers of the armed forces and the National Gendarmerie. It was established in 1959 and inaugurated on 18 January 1961.[18][19] No officers were graduated until 1970. Every graduation of cadets takes place on 18 January.
Non-Commissioned Officer Training School (Ecole des sous officiers du cameroun)
Both commissioned and noncommissioned officers were sent to various military schools in France, Greece, and the Soviet Union. The total number of Cameroonian military cadets with a Russian educational background were few.[20]
References
^ abcdeInternational Institute for Strategic Studies. (2014). Chapter Ten: Country comparisons - commitments, force levels and economics. The Military Balance, 114(1), 471–492. doi:10.1080/04597222.2014.871887
^ abdefenceWeb (14 February 2013). "Cameroon". Defence Web. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
^"Emerging military-society interaction and political change in Cameroon". ACCORD. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
^Harkness, Kristen A. (2020-12-17). "Cameroon: The Military and Autocratic Stability". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1800. ISBN978-0-19-022863-7. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
^. Diplomatie.gouv.fr. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
^Source: Revue Frères Armées, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
^Niagalé Bagayoko, Cameroon's Security Apparatus: Actors and Structures 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, 21.
^"Cameroon displays new Chinese military hardware". 23 May 2014.
^ abc"Décrets du président de la République réorganisant l'armée et nommant des officiers au ministère de la défense" (PDF). Cameroon Tribune: 4–11. 22 February 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09.
^"Defense forces: new units created - Journal du Cameroun". Journal du Cameroun. June 26, 2015.
^ abcdefgBinnie, Jeremy; de Cherisey, Erwan (2017). (PDF). Jane's. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2017.
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Military appointments
January 07, 2023
cameroon, armed, forces, french, forces, armées, camerounaises, military, republic, cameroon, armed, forces, number, citation, needed, personnel, ground, naval, forces, there, approximately, troops, army, across, three, military, regions, approximately, troops. The Cameroon Armed Forces French Forces armees camerounaises FAC are the military of the Republic of Cameroon The armed forces number 40 000 citation needed personnel in ground air and naval forces There are approximately 40 000 troops in the army across three military regions Approximately 1 300 troops are part of the Cameroonian Navy which is headquartered at Douala Under 600 troops are part of the Air Force There is an additional 12 500 paramilitary troops that serve as a gendarmerie policing force or reconnaissance role 1 Cameroon Armed ForcesForces armees camerounaises FAC Founded1960Service branchesArmyAir ForceNavyFire Fighter CorpsGendarmerieHeadquartersYaoundeLeadershipCommander in ChiefPaul BiyaDeputy Commander in ChiefJoseph NguteMinister of DefenseJoseph Beti AssomoChief of the Defence StaffRene Claude MekaPersonnelActive personnel40000 1 failed verification ExpendituresBudgetUS 347 million 2 Percent of GDP1 6 2 IndustryForeign suppliers Brazil citation needed China France India Indonesia Japan Russia Singapore South Africa VietnamRelated articlesHistoryBamileke WarBakassi conflictCAR Civil WarBoko Haram insurgencyAnglophone CrisisRanksMilitary ranks of CameroonThe Cameroonian armed forces have bases spread all over Cameroon including in Ngaoundere Air Force bases are located in Garoua Yaounde Douala and Bamenda It has generally remained loyal to the government and acted to ensure the stability of the regime and not acted as an independent political force 3 4 Traditional dependence on the French defense capability although reduced continues to be the case as French military advisers remain closely involved in preparing the Cameroonian forces for deployment to the contested Bakassi Peninsula China has an ongoing military military relationship with Cameroon which includes training for Cameroonian military students each year in China technical advisors to assist in repairing Cameroonian military vehicles and naval vessels and Chinese military sales 5 Contents 1 Army 1 1 Organization 1 2 1st Military Region 1 3 2nd Military Region 1 4 Army equipment 2 Cameroonian Air Force 3 Cameroon Navy 3 1 History 3 2 Ships 4 Gendarmerie 5 Military education 6 References 7 External linksArmy EditWith over 40 000 troops the Army remains the most important component in terms of numbers 6 The Army is under the responsibility of the Chief of Staff Major General Nkoa Atenga whose staff is in Yaounde Currently the organization dates from 2001 with a distribution in several types of units combat units response units unites d intervention unites de soutien et d appui and finally special reserve units as part of 3 joint military regions interarmees and the 10 military land sectors 7 Army units have been trained and equipped to fight in the swampy coastal terrain facing the Bakassi peninsula Although prepared for an armed conflict with Nigeria in recent years the Cameroon Army does not have operational experience against other forces therefore it is not possible to assess its ability to respond to changing threats and opposing tactics Combat units of the army include 8 The Headquarters Brigade located in Yaounde This brigade is responsible for protecting the capital and supporting the institutions The President of the Republic has to allow any of its deployments Three command and support battalions The Rapid Intervention Battalion Btaillon d Intervention Rapide BIR The Rapid Response Brigade Cameroon de fr Brigade d Intervention Rapide or also BIR which currently has no general staff and is made up of three rapid response battalions stationed in Douala Tiko and Koutaba These three battalions are respectively the Special Amphibious Battalion Bataillon Special Amphibie BSA the Bataillon des Troupes Aeroportees BTAP and the Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Bataillon Blinde de Reconnaissance BBR equipped with Type 07P infantry fighting vehicle and PTL 02 tank destroyer bought recently from China 9 The BSA is inspired by the French Special Forces This brigade is a tactical battle unit under the authority of the Chief of Staff of the armed forces For this to be engaged the President s agreement is necessary citation needed Five motorised infantry brigades supposed to be stationed in one military sector but which can then be engaged without any regard to the territorial division of the country These brigades currently do not have a general staff In theory they consist of 11 motorised infantry battalions 5 support battalions and 3 backing battalions however the motorised battalions are in reality not operational due to a lack of staff equipment and vehicles Organization Edit The territory is divided into 5 combined arms military regions RMIA 10 RMIA1 Yaounde RMIA2 Douala RMIA3 Garoua RMIA4 Maroua RMIA5 Bamenda 1st Military Region Edit 11th Ebolowa Brigade 11th BCS command and support battalion in Ebolowa 12th BIM motorized infantry battalion in Ebolowa 12th BIM at Djoum 13th BIM at Ambam 11th BA support battalion at Sangmelima 12th Bertoua brigade 12th BCS in Bertoua 14th BIM in Bertoua 15th BIM to Yokadouma 16th BIM at Garoua Boulai 12th BA in Bertoua2nd Military Region Edit Rapid Intervention Brigade 11 Headquarters at Bafoussam Special Amphibious Battalion BSA at Tiko Airborne Battalion BTAP in Koutaba Armored Reconnaissance Battalion BBR in Douala 21st Motorized infantry brigade of Buea 10 21st BCS in Buea 21 BIM in Buea 22nd BIM at Mamfe 23rd BIM at Loum 24th BIM at Akwaya 21st BA in Kumba 201st Douala Air Base 10 21st Air Transport Squadron 211st Transport and Assault Transport Squadron 212nd Transport and Assault Transport Squadron 22nd Air Squadron 221st Transport and Assault Transport Squadron 222nd Reconnaissance SquadronArmy equipment Edit Main article List of equipment of the Cameroon Army Oerlikon GDF of the Cameroon Armed Forces in 2016 Note that this list shows acquired equipment and not the equipment that are currently in service Some of the listed equipment is out of service Origin Type Acquired NotesWMA301 Assaulter China Tank destroyer 12 12 13 Type 07P China Infantry fighting vehicle 20 12 Ratel IFV South Africa Infantry fighting vehicle 12 13 Panhard AML 90 France Armoured car 31 13 31 AML 90 Delivered via Bosnian Army in 2002 13 M8 Greyhound United States Armoured car 10 13 Delivered from FranceM5 Half track United States Armoured personnel carrier 5 13 M3 Half track United States Armoured personnel carrier 3 13 Vehicule Blinde Leger France Armoured scout car 5 13 ACMAT Bastion France Armoured personnel carrier 38 13 23 arrived 2015 2016 and 15 in 2017Gaia Automotive Industries Thunder Mk 1 APC Israel Armoured personnel carrier 18 13 RAM 2000 Israel Armoured personnel carrier 5 13 12 Ferret armoured car United Kingdom Armoured car 8 13 Probably out of servicePanthera T6 United Arab Emirates Armoured car At least 2 14 Used by Rapid Intervention BattalionCadillac Gage Commando United States Armoured car 51 13 Including 20mm Autocannon and 81mm Mortar Carrier versionsCougar MRAP United States Infantry mobility vehicle 6 13 General Dynamics Land Systems PKSV United States MRAP 27 12 ACMAT VLRA Liaison Reconnaissance and Support Vehicle TPK BL France Truck 30 13 130 mm towed field gun M1954 M 46 Egypt Romania Field gun 22 13 M101 howitzer United States Howitzer 16 13 M116 howitzer United States Howitzer 5 15 Soltam M 71 Israel Howitzer 18 13 BM 21 Grad Romania Multiple rocket launcher 20 13 12 20 delivered from Romania in 1995 Some more from an unknown source in the 2010s 12 Mortier 120mm Raye Tracte Modele F1 France Mortar 16 13 Cardom Israel Self propelled mortar 8 13 to 18 12 BGM 71 TOW United States Anti tank missile 24 15 250 missiles and 24 launchers delivered in 1990 13 MILAN France Anti tank missile 6 13 6 launchers and 60 missiles delivered in 1982HOT missile France Anti tank missile 40 40 missiles delivered for SA 342L Helicopters 13 M40 recoilless rifle United States Recoilless rifle 40 M40A2 Version in service 15 M20 recoilless rifle United States Recoilless rifle 13 Type 56 Version in use 15 Exocet France Anti ship missile 15 13 Plessey Radar Limited BAE Systems Watchman United Kingdom Air search radar 1 1 radar delivered from UK in 1984 13 ZPU 2 Soviet Union Anti aircraft gun 16 15 Type 63 anti aircraft gun People s Republic of China Anti aircraft gun 18 15 Used on ground mount37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 61 K People s Republic of China Anti aircraft gun 18 15 Oerlikon GDF Switzerland Anti aircraft gun 21 15 Cameroonian Air Force EditMain article Cameroon Air Force The air force has bases in Garoua Koutaba Yaounde Douala and Bamenda The Cameroonian Air Force was founded in 1960 the year of independence from France There are under 400 troops in the air force 1 Cameroon s Air Force has 9 combat capable aircraft 1 Cameroon Navy Edit Cameroonian sailors reviewed by an American admiral in Douala 2015 There are about 1 300 troops in the navy including naval infantry 1 History Edit Around May 1999 Philip Njaru wrote a newspaper article where he alleged ill treatment of civilians conducted by the 21st Navy Battalion based in Ekondo Titi In late May Njaru was approached by the local captain who asked Njaru to stop writing such articles and to disclose his sources Refusing to do this Njaru five days later found his house encircled by armed soldiers and escaped to Kumba 16 Here he was assaulted by police in June 2001 with no particular reason stated 16 Njaru complained to the local authorities but later learned that his complaint had not been received 16 Cameroon s Marine Nationale Republique modernised and increased its capabilities during 2000 with the acquisition of a number of small Rodman patrol craft and the retirement of some small older craft A number of small patrol boats have been acquired or ordered from France Latest estimates indicate naval strength consists of two combat patrol vessels three coastal patrol vessels and approximately 30 smaller inshore and river patrol craft allocated to both the navy and the local gendarmerie These include two 135 tonne Yunnan class landing craft which are able to carry and launch smaller craft for troop insertions Some effort has been made to assess equipment needs to bring L Audacieux P103 and Bakassi P104 to an effective combat status This has resulted in weapons capabilities being reduced in favour of an increase in serviceability and the service is now effectively without missile attack capabilities Bakassi a Type P 48S missile patrol craft completed a major refit at Lorient France in August 1999 This included removing the Exocet missile system and EW equipment and fitting a funnel aft of the mainmast to replace the waterline exhausts New radars were also installed Bakassi is now armed only with 40 mm cannon Although the Bizerte P48 large patrol craft class L Audacieux is fitted for SS 12M missiles these are not embarked and its operational status is in some doubt having not been reported at sea since 1995 The Quartier Maitre Alfred Moto patrol boat was listed as out of service in 1991 but has since been reactivated Ships Edit Cameroon Navy patrol boat during a military parade in Douala 2019 List of active ships 15 1 DIPIKAR patrol boat former French navy Grebe upgraded with LYNCEA PATROL CMS Gun 2 FRA P 48 Gun 6 Rodman 101 46 Gun 1 Quartier class Gun 3 Boston Whaler patrol boats 1 Bakassi class patrol boat P48S type 1 L Audacieux class missile FAC P48 type 1 Alfred Motto class patrol craft 20 Swiftships type river boats 2 Yunnan landing craft utility 8 Simoneau 2 Aresa 2400 CPV Defender patrol boats 17 1 Aresa 2300 landing craft 6 Aresa 750 Commandos RIBs 5 1200 Stealth RIBs 1 1200 Defcon RIB 2 P108 and P109 patrol boatsTwo 32 metre patrol boats are expected to be delivered in February 2014 17 Gendarmerie EditThe Gendarmerie is a paramilitary force composed of about 9 000 soldiers as of 2016 It performs both law enforcement and national security responsibilities across the country See Gendarmerie Military education EditAfter an initial period of development training requirements were formalized in an April 1967 per government decree There was a shortage of Cameroonian instructors at that time The two educational institutions of the nation are the following Combined Services Military Academy Ecole Militaire Interarmes Camerounaises EMIAC It is the interforce academy for officers being the educational center for future officers of the armed forces and the National Gendarmerie It was established in 1959 and inaugurated on 18 January 1961 18 19 No officers were graduated until 1970 Every graduation of cadets takes place on 18 January Non Commissioned Officer Training School Ecole des sous officiers du cameroun Both commissioned and noncommissioned officers were sent to various military schools in France Greece and the Soviet Union The total number of Cameroonian military cadets with a Russian educational background were few 20 References Edit a b c d e International Institute for Strategic Studies 2014 Chapter Ten Country comparisons commitments force levels and economics The Military Balance 114 1 471 492 doi 10 1080 04597222 2014 871887 a b defenceWeb 14 February 2013 Cameroon Defence Web Retrieved 27 May 2018 Emerging military society interaction and political change in Cameroon ACCORD Retrieved 2022 04 19 Harkness Kristen A 2020 12 17 Cameroon The Military and Autocratic Stability Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780190228637 013 1800 ISBN 978 0 19 022863 7 Retrieved 2022 04 19 WikiLeaks United States diplomatic cables leak 10YAOUNDE95 Page d erreur 404 France Diplomatie Ministere des Affaires etrangeres et du Developpement international Diplomatie gouv fr 9 February 2015 Archived from the original on 9 February 2015 Retrieved 25 August 2017 Source Revue Freres Armees French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Niagale Bagayoko Cameroon s Security Apparatus Actors and Structures Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine 21 Cameroon displays new Chinese military hardware 23 May 2014 a b c Decrets du president de la Republique reorganisant l armee et nommant des officiers au ministere de la defense PDF Cameroon Tribune 4 11 22 February 2018 Archived PDF from the original on 2022 10 09 Defense forces new units created Journal du Cameroun Journal du Cameroun June 26 2015 a b c d e f g Binnie Jeremy de Cherisey Erwan 2017 New model African armies PDF Jane s Archived from the original PDF on 22 June 2017 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Trade Registers Armstrade sipri org Retrieved 25 August 2017 de Cherisey Erwan 11 October 2018 Cameroon s BIR takes delivery of Panthera T6 vehicles IHS Jane s Defence Weekly Archived from the original on 11 October 2018 a b c d e f g h i Martin Guy 14 February 2013 Cameroon defenceWeb Defenceweb co za Retrieved 25 August 2017 a b c Njaru v Cameroon HRC Decision Scribd com 3 April 2007 Retrieved 2008 09 14 a b Martin Guy Cameroon Navy receives new patrol vessels landing craft defenceWeb Defenceweb co za Retrieved 25 August 2017 Nouvelles du Cameroun Cameroon News 1977 Combined Services Military Academy EMIA Yaounde Cameroon Military School Directory Cameroon Military Personnel External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military of Cameroon Military appointments Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cameroon Armed Forces amp oldid 1122536278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
