Editing Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea

{{Short description|National army of equatorial guinea}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea
| native_name = {{lang|es|Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial}}
| image = Coat of arms of Equatorial Guinea.svg
| alt = 
| caption = Coat of arms of Equatorial Guinea
| image2 = 
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| motto = 
| founded = 
| current_form = 
| disbanded = 
| branches = Army of Equatorial Guinea<br />[[Navy of Equatorial Guinea]]<br />[[Equatorial Guinea Air Corps|Air Force of Equatorial Guinea]]
| headquarters = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.mil}}-->
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[President of Equatorial Guinea|Commander-in-Chief]]
| chief minister = 
| chief minister_title = 
| minister = General Antonio Mba Nguema
| minister_title = [[Ministry of Defence (Equatorial Guinea)|Minister of Defence]]
| chief_of_staff = 
| chief_of_staff_title = 
| commander = 
| commander_title = <!-- Manpower -->
| age = 
| conscription = 18 years of age, 2 years selective compulsory service
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 16–49
| available = 136,725
| available_f = 138,018
| fit = 105,468
| fit_f = 107,919
| reaching = 6,983
| reaching_f = 6,726
| active = 2,400
| ranked = 
| reserve = 
| deployed = <!-- Financial -->
| amount = 
| percent_GDP = 0.1% (2006 est.)
<!-- Industrial -->| domestic_suppliers = 
| foreign_suppliers = {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]<br />{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia]]<br />{{flagicon|China}} [[China]]<br />{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium]]<br />{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South Africa]]<br />{{flagicon|North Korea}} [[North Korea]]<br />{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Israel]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-israel-selling-arms-to-muslim-countries-1.5277220|title=Israel selling military wares to Mideast countries, Britain says|website=Haaretz.com}}</ref>
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = 
| ranks = [[Military ranks of Equatorial Guinea]]
}}

The '''Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea''' ({{langx|es|Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial}}; {{langx|fr|Forces armées de la Guinée équatoriale}}; {{langx|pt|Forças Armadas da Guiné Equatorial}}) consists of approximately 2,500 service members. The army has almost 1,400 soldiers, the navy 200 service members, and the air force about 120 members.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} There is also a [[gendarmerie]], but the number of members is unknown. The Gendarmerie is a new branch of the service in which training and education is being supported by the French Military Cooperation in Equatorial Guinea.<ref name="Equatorial Guinea">{{cite web |url= http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30337:equatorial-guinea&catid=119:african-militaries|title = Equatorial Guinea |publisher= Flightglobal Insight |access-date= 20 June 2015}}</ref> Military appointments are all reviewed by President [[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo|Teodoro Obiang]], and few of the native militiamen come from outside of Obiang's [[Mongomo]]-based Esangui clan. Obiang was a general when he overthrew his uncle, [[Francisco Macías Nguema]].

==History==
[[File:Equatorial Guinea Map.png|thumb|left|Map of [[Equatorial Guinea]] elaborated by [[CIA]] in 1992.]]
The Armed Forces were reorganized in 1979. In 1988, the [[United States]] donated a 68-foot patrol boat to the [[Navy of Equatorial Guinea|Equatoguinean navy]] to patrol its exclusive economic zone. The U.S. patrol boat ''Isla de Bioko'' is no longer operational.<ref>U.S. Department of State, [https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/equatorialguinea/26446.htm Equatorial Guinea Background Note 01/02]</ref> U.S. military-to-military engagement has been dormant since 1997 (the year of the last [[Joint Combined Exchange Training]] exercise). Between 1984 and 1992, service members went regularly to the United States on the International Military Education Training program, after which funding for this program for [[Equatorial Guinea]] ceased. The government spent 6.5% of its annual budget on defense in 2000 and 4.5% of its budget on defense in 2001. It recently acquired some Chinese artillery pieces, some Ukrainian patrol boats, and some Ukrainian helicopter gunships. Cooper and Weinert 2010 says that all aircraft are based on the military side of [[Malabo International Airport]].<ref>Cooper and Weinert 2010, p142</ref>

In 2002, an [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists]] report said:

{{Blockquote|"The oil companies do not view Equatorial Guinea's military – a product of decades of brutal dictatorial rule – with much confidence. The army is believed to have only about 1,320 men under arms, the navy 120, and the air force 100. Seven of the army's nine generals are relatives of the president; the other two are from his tribe. There is no clear command structure, the level of discipline is low, and professionalism and training are almost non-existent, according to locals and foreign oil workers. Even the presidential guard – an indication of the lack of trust in the country's forces – is composed of 350 Moroccan troops."<ref>[[Sunday Dare]], [http://projects.publicintegrity.org/bow/report.aspx?aid=151 The Curious Bonds of Oil Diplomacy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613100332/http://projects.publicintegrity.org/bow/report.aspx?aid=151 |date=13 June 2010 }}, Center for Public Integrity, 6 November 2002</ref>}}

== Equipment ==
===Armour===
[[File:T-55 4.jpg|thumb|A T-55 [[Main Battle Tank]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"  | [[Armored fighting vehicle]]
|-
| [[T-54/T-55|T-55]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Main battle tank]]
| 3<ref name=IISS>{{cite book |last=[[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]|date=2021|title=The Military Balance|page=463|isbn=9781032012278}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[BRDM-2]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Scout car|Armored scout car]]
| 6<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[BMP-1]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Infantry fighting vehicle|IFV]]
| 20<ref name=IISS/>
| Acquired from the [[Czech Republic]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=Trade Registers|website=armstrade.sipri.org}}</ref>
|-
| [[BTR-152]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
| 10<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[Reva APC|Reva]]
| [[South Africa]]
| [[MRAP|Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected]]
| 25<ref name=IISS/>
|
|-
| [[WZ-551]]
| [[China]]
| [[Infantry fighting vehicle|IFV]]
| 
| Unknown number, IFV, recovery and fire-support variants seen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Equatorial Guinea announces formation of Rapid Intervention Brigade |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/land/equatorial-guinea-announces-formation-of-rapid-intervention-brigade |website=Janes Defence News |language=en |date=23 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|}
[[File:RPG-7 detached.jpg|thumb|An RPG-7 [[Rocket-propelled grenade]] launcher ]]

=== Small arms ===

{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
|[[AKM]]
|[[Soviet Union]]
|[[Assault rifle]]
|
|-
|[[FN FAL]]
|[[Belgium]]
|[[Battle rifle]]
|
|-
|[[RPD machine gun|RPD]]
|[[Soviet Union]]
|[[Light machine gun]]
|
|-
|[[RPG-7]]
|[[Soviet Union]]
|[[Rocket-propelled grenade]]
|
|-
|[[Type 56 assault rifle|Type 56]]
|[[China]]
|[[Assault rifle]]
|
|-
|[[SKS|SKS/Type 56 Carbine]]
|[[Soviet Union]]/[[China]]
|[[Semi-automatic rifle|Semi-automatic carbine]]
|
|}

===Aircraft===
The Equatorial Guinea Air Corps was founded in 1979 with mainly French and Spanish air frames. In 2005, 4 Su 25s including 2 Su-25UB combat trainers were delivered to the Equatorial Guinea Air Corps.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} The current status of the aircraft is unknown.<ref>"[http://www.scramble.nl/gq.htm Equatorial Guinea National Guard]". ''Scramble.nl''. Retrieved: 3 January 2009. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021053453/http://www.scramble.nl/gq.htm|date=21 October 2008}}</ref> In 2015 two [[CASA C-295]] (one transport and one surveillance) aircraft were ordered for delivery from September 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/equatorial-guinea-orders-two-c295-transports-421503/|title=Equatorial Guinea orders two C295 transports|last1=Stevenson|first1=Beth|date=2 February 2016|website=Flightglobal|accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Antonov_An-72P,_Equatorial_Guinea_-_Air_Force_AN1593110.jpg|thumb|An Antonov An-72P on lift off]]
=== Current inventory ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#acc;" |Aircraft
! style="background:#acc;" |Origin
! style="background:#acc;" |Type
! style="background:#acc;" |Variant
! style="background:#acc;" |In service
! style="background:#acc;" |Notes
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" |[[Military aircraft#Combat aircraft|Combat aircraft]]
|-
|[[Sukhoi Su-25]]
|[[Russia]]
|[[Attack aircraft|attack]]
|
|4<ref name="World Air Forces 2023">{{cite web |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90688|title = World Air Forces 2023|work= |publisher= Flightglobal Insight|year= 2023 |doi = |accessdate= 7 December 2022|url-access=registration}}</ref>
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" |[[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
|[[Ilyushin Il-76]]
|[[Soviet Union]]
|heavy transport 
|
|
|
|-
|[[Antonov AN-12]]
|[[Soviet Union]]
|heavy transport
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2023"/>
|
|-
|[[Antonov An-72]]
|[[Soviet Union]]
|transport
|An-72P
|
|
|-
|[[Let L-410 Turbolet]]
|[[Czech Republic]]
|transport 
|
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2023"/>
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" |[[Helicopters]]
|-
|[[Kamov Ka-27]]
|[[Russia]]
|[[Utility helicopter|utility]]
|[[Kamov Ka-27#Variants|Ka-29]]
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2023"/>
|
|-
|[[Mil Mi-26]]
|[[Russia]]
|utility / [[Military transport helicopter|transport]]
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2023"/>
|
|-
|[[Harbin Z-9 ]]
|[[China]]
|utility
|Z-9WE
|2<ref>[https://www.defensa.com/africa-asia-pacifico/fuerzas-armadas-guinea-ecuatorial-dotan-dos-helicopteros-chinos Las Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial se dotan con dos helicópteros chinos Harbin Z-9]</ref>
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" |[[Trainer aircraft]]
|-
|[[Aero L-39 Albatros|Aero L-39]]
|[[Czech Republic]]
|[[jet trainer]]
|
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2023"/>
|
|}

== Navy ==
[[File:US Navy 080202-N-8933S-006 Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1655 leads the Equatorial Guinea Navy in formation behind Africa Partnership Station (APS) flagship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), a dock landing ship, as they pass along the E.jpg|thumb|Joint U.S.-Equatorial Guinea naval exercises off the coast of Equatorial Guinea on February 2, 2008. Behind the American landing craft 1655 sail three Guinean patrol boats, the first being the patrol boat ''Daphne'' and the other two being ''Isla de Corisco'' and ''Isla de Annobon''.]]
{{Main|Navy of Equatorial Guinea}}
The Equatorial Guinean main task is to counter piracy and robbery at sea. In July 2010, after the visit of [[Brazil]]ian president [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]], an order for a [[Brazilian corvette Barroso (V34)|''Barroso''-class]] [[corvette]] was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alide.com.br/joomla/index.php/capa/75-extra/1419-lula-anuncia-venda-de-navio-da-classe-barroso-para-guine-equatorial|title=Lula anuncia venda de navio da classe Barroso para Guiné Equatorial|author=Felipe Salles|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818040910/http://www.alide.com.br/joomla/index.php/capa/75-extra/1419-lula-anuncia-venda-de-navio-da-classe-barroso-para-guine-equatorial|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-07-19|title=Equato Guinea inks corvette deal with Brazil: report|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/equato-guinea-inks-corvette-deal-with-brazil-report/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=defenceWeb|language=en-ZA}}</ref> However, {{as of|2014|lc=yes}} no further news has been announced.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pryce|first=Paul|title=Africa's Newest Navy|url=https://natoassociation.ca/africas-newest-navy/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=NAOC|language=en-US}}</ref> On 3 June 2014, the frigate ''Wele Nzas'' was commissioned and became the navy's flagship.<ref name="IHS Janes"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Vessel
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
| ''Wele Nzas'' (F073)
| [[Bulgaria]]
| [[Frigate]]
|1<ref name="Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate">{{cite web |url= http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35203:equatorial-guinea-commissions-new-frigate&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106|title = Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate |publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2018 |access-date= 5 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="IHS Janes">{{Cite news|date=2014-07-06|title=Equatorial Guinea inducts new frigate|website=IHS Jane's 360|url=http://www.janes.com/article/39665/equatorial-guinea-inducts-new-frigate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706155219/http://www.janes.com/article/39665/equatorial-guinea-inducts-new-frigate|archive-date=2014-07-06|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref>
| [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] designed - modified [[Equatorial Guinea|locally]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-06-24|title=Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/equatorial-guinea-commissions-new-frigate/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=defenceWeb|language=en-ZA}}</ref>
|-
| ''Bata''
| Bulgaria
| [[Corvette]]
|1<ref name="AMI pdf">{{Cite web|date=2017|title=Africa 2017: Patrol Boat Requirements Shaping an Emergent Market|url=https://www.amiinter.com/pdf/Africa_Patrol_Boat_2017.pdf|page=41|url-status=live|website=AMI International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817011449/http://amiinter.com/pdf/Africa_Patrol_Boat_2017.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2018 }}</ref>
|Ukrainian design<ref name="IHS Janes"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/gq-fage-armada.htm|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>
|-
| PV-50
| Ukraine
| [[Protector-class offshore patrol vessel|Patrol vessel]]
|2<ref name="Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate"/>
| 
|-
| ''Isla de Corisco''
| Israel
| [[Patrol boat]]
|1<ref name="Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate"/>
|{{sclass2|Shaldag|patrol boat|4}}
|- 
| ''Isla de Annobon''
| Israel
| Patrol boat
|1<ref name="Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate"/>
|Shaldag class
|- 
| [[Sa'ar 4-class missile boat|Sa'ar 4 class]]
| Israel
| Patrol boat
|2<ref name="Peace Research Institute"/>
|
|-
| ''Osa''
| China
| [[Landing ship]]
|1<ref name="Peace Research Institute">{{cite web |url= http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title = Peace Research Institute |publisher= Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |year= 2018 |access-date= 6 January 2018}}</ref>
| Salamandra class
|-
|'' Daphne	''
| Denmark
| Patrol boat
|1<ref name="Peace Research Institute"/>
|
|}

==Higher education and training==
On 6 November 2016, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces deployed a training contingent to the Equatorial Guinea to train the country's military officers on operational and logistic matters following an urgent request by the West African country. The security personnel contingent is composed of members of the Zimbabwe National Army and Air Force of Zimbabwe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Defence – Home|url=http://www.defence.gov.zw/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=www.defence.gov.zw}}</ref> In 2018, 28 graduates from the military received diplomas from the [[Nakhimov Naval Academy (Sevastopol)|Nakhimov Naval Academy]] in [[Sevastopol]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crimea.kp.ru/daily/26843.7/3884318/|title=Севастополь: выпускники из Африки получают дипломы Нахимовского военно-морского училища|first=Анна|last=МЕЛЬНИКОВА|date=17 June 2018|website=crimea.kp.ru}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
{{commons category|Military of Equatorial Guinea}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/equatorial-guinea/|title=CIA – The World Factbook – Equatorial Guinea|last=Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=12 January 2010}}
* {{cite book|last=International Institute for Strategic Studies|title=The Military Balance|publisher=Routledge|year=2009|isbn=978-1857435160}}

==Further reading==
*Cooper, Tom & Weinert, Peter (2010). African MiGs: Volume I: Angola to Ivory Coast. Harpia Publishing LLC. {{ISBN|978-0-9825539-5-4}}.
*Jeremy Binnie, 'Boom Time – Equatorial Guinea,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 30 May 2012.
*[http://alternathistory.com/rost-voenno-morskoj-moshhi-ekvatorialnoj-gvinei-i-ukrainskie-korni-etogo-rosta/ Рост военно-морской мощи Экваториальной Гвинеи и украинские корни этого роста] (The growth of Equatorial Guinea's naval power and the Ukrainian roots of this growth)

{{Military of Africa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Of Equatorial Guinea}}
[[Category:Military of Equatorial Guinea| ]]