General

The Senegalese armed forces consist of about 19,000 well-trained and disciplined personnel in the army, air force, navy and gendarmerie. The Senegalese military force receives most of its training, equipment, and support from France and the United States. Germany also provides support but on a smaller scale.

Military non-interference in political affairs has contributed to Senegal's stability since independence. Senegal has participated in many international and regional peacekeeping missions.

In August 1981, the Senegalese military was invited into The Gambia by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara to put down a coup attempt. In August 1989, Senegalese-Gambian military cooperation, which began with the joint Senegalese-Gambian efforts during the 1981 coup attempt, ceased with the dissolution of the Senegambian Confederation.

Senegal intervened in the Guinea-Bissau civil war in 1998 at the request of former President Vieira. A Senegalese contingent deployed on a peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic in 1997, while in 1994, a battalion-sized force was sent to Rwanda to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission there. In 1992 1,500 men were sent to the ECOMOG peacekeeping group in Liberia.

In 1991, Senegal was the only Sub-Saharan nation to send a contingent to participate in Operation Desert Storm.

Most recently, in 2000, Senegal sent a battalion to the Democratic Republic of Congo to participate in MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping mission, and agreed to deploy a United States-trained battalion to Sierra Leone to participate in UNAMSIL, another UN peacekeeping mission.

Overview

Military branches:
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,211,279
females age 16-49: 3,250,128 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,109,080
females age 16-49: 2,287,510 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 157,468
female: 156,689 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)