The Cameroon Armed Forces (french: Forces armées camerounaises (FAC)) are the military of the
Republic of Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the ...
. The armed forces number 40,000 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.
[International Institute for Strategic Studies. (2014). Chapter Ten: Country comparisons - commitments, force levels and economics. ''The Military Balance'', 114(1), 471–492. ]
The Cameroonian armed forces have bases spread all over Cameroon, including in
Ngaoundéré
Ngaoundéré, or N'Gaoundéré (Fula: N'gamdere 𞤲'𞤺𞤢𞤥𞤣𞤫𞥅𞤪𞤫𞥅) is the capital of the Adamawa Region of Cameroon. It had a population of 152,700 at the 2005 census. According to the film ''Les Mairuuwas – Maitre de l' ...
. Air Force bases are located in
Garoua
Garoua or Garua (Fula: Garwa 𞤺𞤢𞤪𞤱𞤢) is a port city and the capital of the North Region of Cameroon, lying on the Benue River. A thriving centre of the textiles and cotton industries, the city has approximately 1,285,000 inhabit ...
,
Yaoundé
Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...
,
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...
and
Bamenda
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the Northwest Region, Cameroon, Northwest Region. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is located north-west of the Cameroonian ca ...
.
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. 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
Bakassi is a peninsula on the Gulf of Guinea. It lies between the Cross River (Nigeria), Cross River estuary, near the city of Calabar and the Rio del Ray estuary on the east. It is governed by Cameroon, following the transfer of sovereignty f ...
.
"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."
Army
With over 40,000 troops the Army remains the most important component in terms of numbers. The Army is under the responsibility of the Chief of Staff,
Major-General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Nkoa Atenga, whose staff is in
Yaoundé
Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...
.
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.
Army units have been trained and equipped to fight in the swampy coastal terrain facing the
Bakassi peninsula
Bakassi is a peninsula on the Gulf of Guinea. It lies between the Cross River (Nigeria), Cross River estuary, near the city of Calabar and the Rio del Ray estuary on the east. It is governed by Cameroon, following the transfer of sovereignty f ...
. 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:
* 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.
* Three command and support battalions;
* The
Rapid Intervention Battalion The Rapid Intervention Battalion (''Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide'', or BIR) is an elite military force and an army combat unit of the Cameroonian Armed Forces.
The unit is supported by the United States, reports directly to the president of Cam ...
(''Btaillon d'Intervention Rapide'', BIR)
* The (''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
The Type 07P is a Chinese infantry fighting vehicle manufactured by Poly Technologies.
Variants
* Standard version
* Command post vehicle
* Recovery vehicle
* YLGA01 internal security vehicle
* Type 07PA self-propelled howitzer, also designated ...
infantry fighting vehicle and
PTL-02
The WZ-551 is a Chinese wheeled infantry fighting vehicle family. The name WZ-551 actually covers two families of vehicles with the official designations in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Type 90 and Type 92. Over 3,000 WZ-551s are in se ...
tank destroyer bought recently from China. 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.
* 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
The territory is divided into 5 combined arms
military region
Military districts (also called military regions) are formations of a state's armed forces (often of the Army) which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and ...
s (RMIA):
* RMIA1 (
Yaoundé
Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...
)
* RMIA2 (
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...
)
* RMIA3 (
Garoua
Garoua or Garua (Fula: Garwa 𞤺𞤢𞤪𞤱𞤢) is a port city and the capital of the North Region of Cameroon, lying on the Benue River. A thriving centre of the textiles and cotton industries, the city has approximately 1,285,000 inhabit ...
)
* RMIA4 (
Maroua
Maroua (Fula: Marwa 𞤥𞤢𞤪𞤱𞤢) is the capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon, stretching along the banks of the Ferngo and Kaliao Rivers, in the foothills of the Mandara Mountains. The city had 301,371 inhabitants at the 2005 C ...
)
* RMIA5 (
Bamenda
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the Northwest Region, Cameroon, Northwest Region. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is located north-west of the Cameroonian ca ...
)
1st Military Region
* 11th
Ebolowa
Ebolowa is the capital of Cameroon's South Region (Cameroon), South Region. It has a population of 79,500 (2001 estimate). It is a colonial town and a notable agricultural centre.
Overview
The main crop is Cocoa bean, cocoa. It also hosts an ...
Brigade:
** 11th BCS (command and support battalion) in Ebolowa
** 12th BIM (motorized infantry battalion) in Ebolowa
** 12th BIM at
Djoum
Djoum is a town in South Province, Cameroon.
History
The first inhabitants of modern-day Djoum were the Baka peoples.
The rural municipality was formed in 1952. The town was later divided in 1995 in three entities to form municipalities of ...
** 13th BIM at
Ambam
Ambam is a town and commune in South Province of Cameroon on the border with Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. This frontier town is located approximately 220 km from Yaoundé and as of 2005 had a population of 1,596. Traditionally, it has traded ...
** 11th BA (support battalion) at
Sangmélima
Sangmélima is a town on the Lobo River, and also the chief town of Lobo division ("Dja et Lobo"), in the South Province ('Province du Sud'), Republic of Cameroon, Africa. The language spoken there is Bulu. French, is also spoken as it is one ...
* 12th
Bertoua brigade
** 12th BCS in Bertoua
** 14th BIM in Bertoua
**15th BIM to
Yokadouma
Yokadouma is a town and Catholic bishopric in eastern Cameroon, lying near the border with the Central African Republic. It was an early French administrative centre.
During the colonial period, Yokadouma was the centre for a widespread but ill-f ...
**16th BIM at
Garoua-Boulaï
Garoua-Boulaï (or Garoua-Boulay) is a town and commune in Cameroon. The town is on the border with the Central African Republic. Across the border, the nearest CAR settlement accessible by road is Baboua.
Refugees
In 2014, the town was severe ...
**12th BA in Bertoua
2nd Military Region
* Rapid Intervention Brigade
** Headquarters at
Bafoussam
Bafoussam is the capital and largest city of the West Region of Cameroon, in the Bamboutos Mountains. It is the 3rd most important (financially) city in Cameroon, after Yaoundé and Douala. The ''communauté urbaine'' (Urban Community) of Bafous ...
**Special Amphibious Battalion (BSA) at
Tiko
Tiko, originally called ‘Keka’ by the Bakweris, is a town and important port in the southwest region of Cameroon. The settlement grew as a market town for Duala (or Douala) fishermen, Bakweri (Kpwe people) farmers and hunters from Molyko, ...
**Airborne Battalion (BTAP) in
Koutaba
Koutaba is a town and commune in Cameroon.
Gallery
File:Montagne Koutaba1.jpg, View of Koutaba Mountain
File:Montagne de cratère à Koutaba.jpg, View of Koutaba Mountain
File:Montagne Koutaba26.jpg, Waterfall on Koutaba Mountain
File:Montagne Ko ...
**Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (BBR) in
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...
* 21st Motorized infantry brigade of
Buéa
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The city is located in Fako Division, on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon, and has a population of 300,000 (at the 2013 Census). It has two Government Hotels, the Mountain Hotel and ...
** 21st BCS in Buéa
** 21 BIM in Buéa
** 22nd BIM at
Mamfé
Mamfe or Mamfé is a city in and the capital of Manyu (department), Manyu, a division of the Southwest Region (Cameroon), Southwest Region in Cameroon. It is from the border of Nigeria, on the Manyu River. It has a population of 36,500 (2017 est ...
** 23rd BIM at
Loum
** 24th BIM at
Akwaya
** 21st BA in
Kumba
Kumba is a metropolitan city in the Meme department, Southwest Region, Western Cameroon, referred as "K-town" in local slang. Kumba is the most developed and largest city in the Meme Department and has attracted people from the local villag ...
* 201st Douala Air Base
** 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 Squadron
Army equipment
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.
Cameroonian Air Force
The air force has bases in
Garoua
Garoua or Garua (Fula: Garwa 𞤺𞤢𞤪𞤱𞤢) is a port city and the capital of the North Region of Cameroon, lying on the Benue River. A thriving centre of the textiles and cotton industries, the city has approximately 1,285,000 inhabit ...
,
Koutaba
Koutaba is a town and commune in Cameroon.
Gallery
File:Montagne Koutaba1.jpg, View of Koutaba Mountain
File:Montagne de cratère à Koutaba.jpg, View of Koutaba Mountain
File:Montagne Koutaba26.jpg, Waterfall on Koutaba Mountain
File:Montagne Ko ...
,
Yaoundé
Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...
,
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...
and
Bamenda
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the Northwest Region, Cameroon, Northwest Region. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is located north-west of the Cameroonian ca ...
. The Cameroonian Air Force was founded in 1960, the year of independence from France. There are under 400 troops in the air force.
Cameroon's Air Force has 9 combat-capable aircraft.
Cameroon Navy
![Africa Partnership Station 150312-N-RU135-318](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Africa_Partnership_Station_150312-N-RU135-318.jpg)
There are about 1,300 troops in the navy including naval infantry.
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
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
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
Kumba is a metropolitan city in the Meme department, Southwest Region, Western Cameroon, referred as "K-town" in local slang. Kumba is the most developed and largest city in the Meme Department and has attracted people from the local villag ...
.
Here, he was assaulted by police in June 2001, with no particular reason stated.
Njaru complained to the local authorities, but later learned that "his complaint had not been received".
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
![Vehicules militaires pendant le défilé8](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Vehicules_militaires_pendant_le_d%C3%A9fil%C3%A98.jpg)
List of active ships.
* 1: DIPIKAR patrol boat (former French navy "Grèbe", upgraded with LYNCEA PATROL CMS) (Gun)
* 2: FRA P-48 (Gun)
* 6: Rodman 101/46 (Gun)
* 1: Quartier class (Gun)
* 3:
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler is an American boat manufacturer. It is a subsidiary of the Brunswick Boat Group, a division of the Brunswick Corporation. Boston Whalers were originally produced in Massachusetts, hence the name, but today are manufactured in Edge ...
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
* 1: Aresa 2300 landing craft
* 6: Aresa 750 Commandos RIBs
* 5: 1200 Stealth RIBs
* 1: 1200 Defcon RIB
* 2: P108 and P109 patrol boats
Two 32-metre patrol boats are expected to be delivered in February 2014.
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. (Se
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. 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
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, and the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
. The total number of Cameroonian military cadets with a Russian educational background were few.
References
External links
Military appointments
{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Of Cameroon