Djiboutian Army

Djiboutian Army
Members of the Djibouti Army during a ceremony in 2009
Active	1977–present
Country	Djibouti
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	16,000 (2016 est.)
Part of	Djibouti Armed Forces
Engagements	Djiboutian Civil War Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur African Union Mission to Somalia

The Djiboutian Army is the largest branch of the Djibouti Armed Forces and is based in the Djiboutian capital of Djibouti City. Djibouti has upgraded its Ground Forces with advanced additions from domestic engineering and modifications. It must operate in mountainous and other rugged terrain, but it must do this without affecting the mechanized capability that is needed to confront regional forces. The official tasks of the armed forces include strengthening the country against external attack, maintaining border security. It is responsible for the defence of mainland Djibouti. During peacetime the military of Djibouti numbers approximately 9,000 with a reserve force of approximately 7,000

Overview

Djiboutian AML-90 armoured car.

Djibouti has a smaller military than its neighbors. However, its security stops against foreign incursions. In reforming the Djiboutian Army, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. Clashes with the Eritrean Forces, in 2008, demonstrated the superior nature of the Djiboutian forces’ training and skills, but also highlighted the fact that the small military would be unable to counter the larger, if less well-equipped forces of its neighbours. The army has concentrated on mobility in its equipment purchases, suitable for patrol duties and counterattack but ill-suited for armoured war-fare. The 2008 border clashes at least temporarily swelled the ranks of the Djiboutian army, with retired personnel being recalled, but the military’s size and capabilities are much reduced since the 1990s. As a result of tensions with neighbors during the 1980s and early 2002, the Djiboutian Army refined existing strategic concepts and eventually formulated a plan to restructure its forces. Though wars were avoided, the threats from the 1980s and 2008 encouraged the army to address more effectively its major defense disadvantage: lack of strategic depth. Thus in the early 2000s it looked outward for a model of army organization that would best advance defensive capabilities by restructuring forces into smaller, more mobile units instead of traditional divisions. Over the years, Djiboutian Army has benefited from material and financial support of various countries such as France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the United States. Currently, the amount allocated to defense represents the largest single entry in the country’s budget. During, and since, the Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict the army has exploded in size from its peacetime size of between 6,000 and 10,000.

Organization

Ali Sabieh Infantry Regiment

Dikhil Infantry Regiment

Obock Infantry Regiment

Tadjoura Infantry Regiment

Djibouti City Rapid Reaction Regiment

One Demining Company

Djiboutian Army Infantry Regiments

The Army has four military districts (the Tadjourah, Dikhil, Ali-Sabieh and Obock districts).^[1]

Its maneuver units are:

• One armoured regiment (Régiment Blindé) (Djibouti)(comprising a reconnaissance squadron, three armoured squadrons and an anti-smuggling squadron)^[1]
• Four infantry regiments (each comprising three to four infantry companies and a support company)^[1]
  • Arms Regiment of Dikhil (Régiment interarmes de Dikhil)
  • Bataillon interarmes d'Ali Sabieh (Ali Sabieh)
  • Arms Regiment of Tadjourah (Régiment interarmes de Tadjourah)
  • Arms Regiment of Obock (Régiment interarmes d'Obock)
• One rapid reaction regiment (Régiment d'action rapide) (Arta)(comprising four infantry companies and a support company)^[1]
• One Republican Guard regiment^[1]
• One artillery regiment (Régiment d'artillerie) (Djibouti)^[1]
• One demining company^[1]
• One signals regiment^[1]
• One computer and information systems section^[1]
• One logistics regiment^[1]
• One maintenance company^[1]

International mission

Djibouti has participated in international mission in Somalia and Sudan. There are 2,000 Djiboutian army personnel deployed abroad.

Equipment

Small arms

Name	Type	Country of Origin	Notes
Beretta M9[2]	Semi-automatic pistol	Italy
MAC Mle 1950	Semi-automatic pistol	France	Standard service pistol.[2]
MAT-49[3]	Submachine gun	France
MAS-36	Bolt-action rifle	France	Likely in reserve.[2]
AKM[4]	Assault Rifle	Soviet Union
FAMAS	Assault rifle	France
FN FAL[3]	Battle rifle	Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[3]	Battle rifle	Germany
IMI Galil[3]	Assault rifle	Israel
M4	Assault rifle	United States	Used by special forces.[2]
SIG SG 540[3]	Battle rifle	Switzerland
Steyr AUG[5]	Assault rifle	Austria
Type 56[2]	Assault rifle	China
Dragunov SVD[6]	Sniper rifle	Soviet Union
Remington Model 700[2]	Sniper rifle	United States
AA-52[3]	General purpose machine gun	France
Browning M2[3]	Heavy machine gun	United States
FN MAG[2]	General-purpose machine gun	Belgium
NSV machine gun[2]	Heavy machine gun	USSR
PKM[7]	Medium machine gun	Soviet Union
RPD[2]	Light machine gun	Soviet Union
RPK[8]	Light machine gun	Soviet Union
Mk 19[2]	Grenade launcher	United States
APILAS[2]	Anti-tank weapon	France
LRAC F1[2]	Anti-tank weapon	France
RPG-7	Anti-tank weapon	Soviet Union	RPG-7V.[2]

Vehicles

Name	Type	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
Norinco WMA301	Tank Destroyer	China	10	--
T-72	Main Battle Tank	Soviet Union	--	On order from Yemen.[9]
AMX-13	Light Tank	France	60[10]	Serviceability doubtful.[2]
BTR-80	Armoured Personnel Carrier	Soviet Union	15[11]
BTR-60	Armoured Personnel Carrier	USSR	10[11]	BTR-60PB.[2]
Saxon	Armoured Personnel Carrier	United Kingdom	60[12]
Puma	Armoured Personnel Carrier	Italy	6[12]
Ratel-90	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	South Africa	9[13]	12 delivered.[10]
Casspir	MRAP	South Africa	9[11]	Casspir III variant.
Cougar	MRAP	United States	10[12]
Panhard AML	Armoured Car	France	20[2]	24 delivered.[10]
BRDM-2	Scout Car	Soviet Union	12[10]	Serviceability doubtful.[2]
Véhicule Blindé Léger	Scout Car	France	10[10]
Humvee	Utility Vehicle	United States	14[2]
Land Rover Defender	Utility Vehicle	United Kingdom	13[2]
M35	Utility Truck	United States	10[2]
Mercedes-Benz G-Class	Utility Vehicle	Germany	4[2]
Mercedes-Benz Unimog	Artillery Tractor	Germany	4[2]
Toyota Land Cruiser	Light Truck	Japan	26[14]
Ural-4320	Artillery Tractor	Soviet Union	3[2]
VLRA	Utility Vehicle	France	4[2]

Artillery

Name	Type	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
BM-21 Grad[15]	Multiple Rocket Launcher	Soviet Union	12
M109 howitzer	Self-propelled artillery	United States	10
MO-120-RT-61	Towed Mortar	France	20[2]	Acquired in 1981.[10]
D-30	Howitzer	Soviet Union	6[10]
M-56[11]	Howitzer	Yugoslavia

Air defense

Name	Type	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
Bofors L/70	Towed anti-aircraft gun	Sweden	5[11]
ZU-23-2	Towed anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	5[11]
20 mm modèle F2 gun	Autocannon	France	5[1]	Used for air defence.[11]

See also

• Djibouti Armed Forces
• Djiboutian Navy
• Djibouti Air Force

References

Citations

Works consulted

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). The Military Balance 2012. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222. 

External links

Media related to Army of Djibouti at Wikimedia Commons