Djiboutian Army
The Djiboutian National 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
has a smaller military than its neighbors. However, its security stops against foreign incursions. In reforming the Djiboutian National 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
The Army has four military districts.Its maneuver units are:
- One armoured regiment
- Four infantry regiments
- *Arms Regiment of Dikhil
- *Bataillon interarmes d'Ali Sabieh
- *Arms Regiment of Tadjourah
- *Arms Regiment of Obock
- One rapid reaction regiment
- One Republican Guard regiment
- One artillery regiment
- One demining company
- One signals regiment
- One computer and information systems section
- One logistics regiment
- One maintenance company
International mission
| Location | Mission | Size |
| Somalia | 2,000 | |
| Sudan | 151 Police Officers |
Equipment
Small arms
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | Notes |
| Beretta M9 | Semi-automatic pistol | Italy | |
| MAC Mle 1950 | Semi-automatic pistol | France | Standard service pistol. |
| MAT-49 | Submachine gun | France | |
| MAS-36 | Bolt-action rifle | France | Likely in reserve. |
| AKM | Assault Rifle | ||
| FAMAS | Assault rifle | France | |
| FN FAL | Battle rifle | Belgium | |
| Heckler & Koch G3 | Battle rifle | Germany | |
| IMI Galil | Assault rifle | Israel | |
| M4 | Assault rifle | United States | Used by special forces. |
| SIG SG 540 | Battle rifle | Switzerland | |
| Steyr AUG | Assault rifle | Austria | |
| Type 56 | Assault rifle | China | |
| Dragunov SVD | Sniper rifle | ||
| Remington Model 700 | Sniper rifle | United States | |
| AA-52 | General purpose machine gun | France | |
| Browning M2 | Heavy machine gun | United States | |
| FN MAG | General-purpose machine gun | Belgium | |
| NSV machine gun | Heavy machine gun | USSR | |
| PKM | Medium machine gun | ||
| RPD | Light machine gun | ||
| RPK | Light machine gun | ||
| Mk 19 | Grenade launcher | United States | |
| APILAS | Anti-tank weapon | France | |
| LRAC F1 | Anti-tank weapon | France | |
| RPG-7 | Anti-tank weapon | RPG-7V. |
Vehicles
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes |
| T-62 | Main Battle Tank | Unknown number in service. | ||
| Norinco WMA301 | Assault Gun | Unknown number in service. | ||
| T-54/T-55 | Main Battle Tank | Unknown number in service. | ||
| AMX-13 | Light Tank | 60 | Serviceability doubtful. | |
| BTR-80 | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 15 | ||
| BTR-60 | Armoured Personnel Carrier | USSR | 10 | BTR-60PB. |
| Saxon | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 60 | ||
| Puma | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 6 | ||
| Ratel-90 | Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 9 | 12 delivered. | |
| Casspir | MRAP | 9 | Casspir III variant. | |
| Cougar | MRAP | 10 | ||
| RG-33 | MRAP | 10 | ||
| Panhard AML | Armoured Car | 20 | 24 delivered. | |
| BRDM-2 | Scout Car | 12 | Serviceability doubtful. | |
| Véhicule Blindé Léger | Scout Car | 10 | ||
| Humvee | Utility Vehicle | 68 | ||
| Land Rover Defender | Utility Vehicle | 13 | ||
| M35 | Utility Truck | 10 | ||
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Utility Vehicle | 4 | ||
| Mercedes-Benz Unimog | Artillery Tractor | 4 | ||
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Light Truck | 26 | ||
| Ural-4320 | Artillery Tractor | 3 | ||
| VLRA | Utility Vehicle | 4 |
Artillery
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes |
| BM-21 Grad | Multiple Rocket Launcher | |||
| OTO Melara M109L 155/39 mm | Self-propelled artillery | 10 | gift of Italian Government | |
| MO-120-RT-61 | Towed Mortar | 20 | Acquired in 1981. | |
| D-30 | Howitzer | 6 | ||
| OTO Melara Mod.56 105/14 mm | Howitzer |
Air defense
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes |
| Bofors L/70 | Towed anti-aircraft gun | Sweden | 5 | |
| ZU-23-2 | Towed anti-aircraft gun | 5 | ||
| 20 mm modèle F2 gun | Autocannon | France | 5 | Used for air defence. |