Military and Security Forces
Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine)National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2023)the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) is part of the Army per a March 2022 decree, but reports to the president; the GSPR provides protection to the head of statenote 2
Military Service Age and Obligation
18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2022)
Military and Security Service Personnel Strengths
information varies; up to 15,000 FACA troops (2023)
Military Equipment Inventories and Acquisitions
the FACA is lightly armed; most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were destroyed or captured during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its equipment was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received small amounts of secondhand equipment from China and Russia (2023)