The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe off the coast of West Africa maintains a very small military, consisting of four branches: the Army, the Coast Guard, the Presidential Guard, and the National Guard. In the 2005 fiscal year, military expenditures were $581,729, about 0.8% of São Tomé and Príncipe's gross domestic product.
A 2004 estimate put military manpower availability (males age 15-49) at 38,347, with a "fit for military service" estimate of 20,188.
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)
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