The Red Guard of Senegal is a unit of the Senegalese Gendarmerie that is responsible for presidential security. It also has ceremonial duties and assists in general policing. It is very similar in concept to the French Republican Guard, with which it is officially twinned. The Red Guard is the direct descendant of a French colonialSpahi detachment sent to Senegal in 1845. This spahi unit is also known as the Red Guard of the Presidency or Red Guard of Dakar. The name "Red Guard" is derived from their red tunics and burnous cloaks.
Background and heritage
French Spahis were required to range over vast areas of the Sahara desert and in 1845 a squadron was sent to Saint-Louis du Sénégal in response to tribal conflicts on the banks of the Senegal river. This detachment became a Senegalese-recruited branch of the Spahis. The Senegalese Spahis saw extensive active service in French West Africa and in Morocco over a period of 80 years. These cavalry squadrons were disbanded in 1928 as an economy measure but provided the basis for a newly-raised mounted gendarmerie. In the twentieth century the Senegalese spahis were known as the "Colonial Guard" of the "Colonial Gendarmerie". In 1960, on independence, the Colonial Guard was renamed "Presidential Guard", while the Colonial Gendarmerie as a whole became the National Gendarmerie. The Red Guard places great emphasis on its heritage from the French empire, and considers itself "guardian of the traditions of the squadrons which distinguished themselves on countless battlefields in black Africa and Morocco, in the service of France"
This group is responsible for the close personal protection of the president.
Escorts and Services Group of Squadrons
This group consists of the Mounted Squadron and the Motorcycle Squadron.
Mounted Squadron
This is the premier ceremonial unit of the Red Guard. It is used for visits by foreign heads of state. The guard consists of 120 cavalrymen, including a mounted band of 35 musicians. Parades are led by the band, on white horses with their tails dyed red. There are three platoons in the squadron; the 1st and 3rd platoons are mounted on bay horses, the 2nd on white horses. The squadron also fulfils mounted police duties for the maintenance of public order, notably on beaches.
Motorcycle Squadron
This squadron provides a road escort for presidential convoys and for similar convoys. The squadron can also provide ordinary traffic police services.
