Editing Cameroon Armed Forces (section)

==Army==
With over 40,000 troops, the Army remains the most important component in terms of numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/actions-france_830/defense-securite_9035/cooperation-securite-defense_9037/revue-freres-armes_12582/freres-armes-258-dossier-cameroun_18857/dossier_19041/armee-terre_64741.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209022905/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/actions-france_830/defense-securite_9035/cooperation-securite-defense_9037/revue-freres-armes_12582/freres-armes-258-dossier-cameroun_18857/dossier_19041/armee-terre_64741.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2015|title=Page d'erreur 404 - France-Diplomatie - Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement international|date=9 February 2015|website=Diplomatie.gouv.fr|access-date=25 August 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>Source: ''Revue Frères Armées'', French Ministry of Foreign Affairs</ref>

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:<ref>Niagalé Bagayoko, [http://www.africansecuritynetwork.org/site/components/com_medialibrary/emedia/Cameroons%20Security%20Apparatus%20Actors%20and%20Structures.pdf Cameroon's Security Apparatus: Actors and Structures] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225331/http://www.africansecuritynetwork.org/site/components/com_medialibrary/emedia/Cameroons%20Security%20Apparatus%20Actors%20and%20Structures.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, 21.</ref>
* 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 brigade consists of acommand and support battalion; a support battalion; a ''bataillon honneurs et protection'' (BHP); and three infantry battalions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mindef.gov.cm/armee-de-terre/presentation/ | title=Presentation }}</ref>
* Three command and support battalions;
* The [[Rapid Intervention Battalion, Cameroon|Rapid Intervention Battalion]] (''Btaillon d'Intervention Rapide'', BIR)
* The {{ill|Rapid Response Brigade (Cameroon)|de|Brigade d’intervention rapide (Kamerun)|fr|Brigade d’intervention rapide}} (''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)<ref>{{Cite web |title=intervention-brigade |url=https://mindef.gov.cm/armee-de-terre/en/intervention-brigade/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Armée de Terre |language=en-US}}</ref> equipped with [[Type 07P]] infantry fighting vehicle and [[PTL-02]] tank destroyer bought recently from China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/cameroon-displays-new-chinese-military-hardware/|title = Cameroon displays new Chinese military hardware|date = 23 May 2014}}</ref> 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|date=April 2020}}
* 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]]s (RMIA):<ref name = "decrets">{{cite journal|title=Décrets du président de la République réorganisant l'armée et nommant des officiers au ministère de la défense|url=https://www.journalducameroun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P04-11-Documents-3.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.journalducameroun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P04-11-Documents-3.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|journal=Cameroon Tribune|date= 22 February 2018|pages=4–11}}</ref>
* RMIA1 ([[Yaoundé]])
* RMIA2 ([[Douala]])
* RMIA3 ([[Garoua]])
* RMIA4 ([[Maroua]])
* RMIA5 ([[Bamenda]])

=== 1st Military Region ===
* 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 [[Sangmélima]]
* 12th [[Bertoua]] brigade
** 12th BCS in Bertoua
** 14th BIM in Bertoua
**15th BIM to [[Yokadouma]] 
**16th BIM at [[Garoua-Boulaï]]
**12th BA in Bertoua

=== 2nd Military Region ===

* Rapid Intervention Brigade<ref name="JDC.com">{{cite web | title = Defense forces: new units created - Journal du Cameroun | date = June 26, 2015 | url = https://www.journalducameroun.com/forces-de-defense-de-nouvelles-unites-creees/|website=[[Journal du Cameroun]]}}</ref>
** 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 [[Buéa]]<ref name="decrets" />
** 21st BCS in Buéa
** 21 BIM in Buéa
** 22nd BIM at [[Mamfé]]
** 23rd BIM at [[Loum, Cameroon|Loum]]
** 24th BIM at [[Akwaya]]
** 21st BA in [[Kumba (Cameroon)|Kumba]]
* 201st Douala Air Base<ref name="decrets" />
** 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===
{{main|List of equipment of the Cameroon Army}}
[[File:Véhicule militaire pendant la fête nationale au Cameroun5.jpg|thumb|[[Oerlikon GDF]] of the Cameroon Armed Forces in 2016.]]