| Senegalese Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Forces armées du Sénégal | |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Service branches | |
| Leadership | |
| President | Macky Sall |
| Minister of the Armed Forces | Sidiki Kaba |
| Chief of the General Staff | General of Air Corps Mbaye Cissé |
| Personnel | |
| Available for military service | 1,158,893 (2000 est.), age 15–49 (2,218,920 (2000 est.)) |
| Fit for military service | 109,381 (2000 est.), age 15–49 (2,218,920 (2000 est.)) |
| Reaching military age annually | (2,218,920 (2000 est.)) |
| Active personnel | 17,000 |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | ~ $350 million (FY2018) |
| Percent of GDP | ~1.5% (FY2018 est.) |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  Canada France India Vietnam United States Haiti China |
| Related articles | |
| History | Mauritania–Senegal Border War Casamance conflict Gulf War Guinea-Bissau Civil War Insurgency in the Maghreb 2008 invasion of Anjouan Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Invasion of the Gambia |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Senegal |
The Armed Forces of Senegal (French: Forces armées du Sénégal) consists of about 17,000 personnel in the army, air force, navy, and gendarmerie. The Senegal military force receives most of its training, equipment, and support from France and the United States. Germany also provides support but on a smaller scale.
Military noninterference in political affairs has contributed to Senegal's stability since independence. Senegal has participated in many international and regional peacekeeping missions. Most recently, in 2000, Senegal sent a battalion to the Democratic Republic of Congo to participate in MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Senegal also agreed to deploy a United States-trained battalion to Sierra Leone to participate in UNAMSIL, another UN peacekeeping mission. The training operation was designated Operation Focus Relief and involved U.S. Army Special Forces from 3rd Special Forces Group training a number of West African battalions, including Nigerian ones.
As one of the largest troop contributors in Africa (per capita) to African Union missions, United Nations missions, and other regional security organizations, the Senegalese military has proven itself to be one of the most effective and reliable militaries on the African continent. This is remarkable given that Senegal is poorer than the average Sub-Saharan African country. Most importantly, the army of Senegal is multi-ethnic, not coup-proofed, and has never attempted a coup d'état, which is a rarity in Africa. Harmonious Senegalese civil-military relations since independence have permitted the creation of an effective 'military enclave' that is a capable institution not a threat to the political leadership in Dakar.[1]
- ^ Matisek, Jahara (March 2019). "An Effective Senegalese Military Enclave: The Armée-Nation "Rolls On"". African Security. 12: 62–86. doi:10.1080/19392206.2019.1593004. S2CID 150559462.