Djiboutian Army

Djiboutian Army
Active	1977–present
Country	Djibouti
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	18,600 Active (2018 est.) 11,000 Reserve (2018 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 National Army is the largest branch of the Djibouti Armed Forces and is based in the Djiboutian capital of Djibouti. 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

Djibouti 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.

Ali Sabieh Infantry Regiment

Dikhil Infantry Regiment

Obock Infantry Regiment

Tadjoura Infantry Regiment

Djibouti City Rapid Reaction Regiment

One Demining Company

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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]

Djibouti has participated in international mission in Somalia and Sudan. There are 3,500^[2] Djiboutian army personnel deployed abroad. Djibouti withdrew their personnel from Sudan on the 30 June 2021.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Djiboutian Army v t e
							Général de division		Général de brigade		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Djiboutian Army v t e
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant				Sergent-chef						Sergent						Caporal-chef				Caporal		Soldat première						Soldat

Citations

Works consulted

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). The Military Balance 2012. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. Vol. 121. Routledge. ISBN 9781032012278.

Media related to Army of Djibouti at Wikimedia Commons