 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (April 2013) |
| Central African Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Forces armées centrafricaines (FACA) | |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Service branches | Ground Forces Air Force National Gendarmerie Republican Guard National Police |
| Headquarters | Camp Le Roux, Bangui |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Faustin-Archange Touadéra |
| Minister of Defense | Rameaux-Claude Bireau |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | Zéphirin Mamadou |
| Personnel | |
| Conscription | Voluntary, after the age of 18 years |
| Available for military service | 853,760, age 18–49 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 416,091, age 18–49 (2005 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | (2005 est.) |
| Active personnel | 30,000 (2022)[1] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | $25 million (2021)[1] |
| Percent of GDP | 1.4% (2018) |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  Brazil China India Indonesia Portugal[2] Russia[3] Singapore South Africa United States Vietnam |
| Related articles | |
| History | Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Central African Republic Bush War Central African Republic Civil War |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Central African Republic |
The Central African Armed Forces (French: Forces armées centrafricaines; FACA) are the armed forces of the Central African Republic and have been barely functional since the outbreak of the civil war in 2012. Today they are among the world's weakest armed forces, dependent on international support to provide security in the country. In recent years the government has struggled to form a unified national army. It consists of the Ground Force (which includes the air service), the gendarmerie, and the National Police.[4]
Its disloyalty to the president came to the fore during the mutinies in 1996–1997, and since then has faced internal problems. It has been strongly criticised by human rights organisations due to terrorism, including killings, torture and sexual violence. In 2013 when militants of the Séléka rebel coalition seized power and overthrew President Bozizé they executed many FACA troops.[5]
- ^ a b "2021 Central African Republic Military Strength".
- ^ "Portugal sends military equipment to Central African Republic".
- ^ "C.Africa rebels rearm after military gets Russia weapons:UN panel". Archived from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
- ^ Central African Republic – CIA World Factbook
- ^ "Peace and Conflict Monitor, Understanding the 2013 Coup dâétat in the Central African Republic". upeace.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2014-07-31.