Military & Security

Military - note

The Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) are tasked with safeguarding the nation's territorial integrity, delivering humanitarian aid, assisting in regional peacekeeping efforts, and enhancing internal security. Their primary concerns include the threats posed by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, particularly along the borders with Nigeria and Chad in the Far North region, and since 2016, a rebellion from armed Anglophone separatists in the North-West and South-West regions. Moreover, the FAC frequently deploys ground forces to the border with the Central African Republic to address incursions by armed militias and bandits. The Navy's responsibilities encompass the protection of Cameroon's oil facilities, tackling crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and overseeing the nation's lakes and rivers. The FAC's modest Air Force provides support to both ground and naval operations (2025)

Military deployments

750 (plus about 400 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army, Cameroon Navy (which includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Firefighting Corps.

General Delegation for National Security (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2025)

Military service age and obligation

Individuals aged 18-23 can voluntarily enlist for military service, with the age range extending to 28 for medical roles; there is no conscription, and the service commitment lasts for four years (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The FAC's inventory includes weaponry from a diverse array of nations, such as China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the United States, and several Western European countries, notably France (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

The estimated number of active FAC personnel, including the Gendarmerie, is between 40,000 and 50,000 (2025)