Military of São Tomé and Príncipe

The Armed Forces of São Tomé e Príncipe (FASTP, Forças Armadas de São Tomé e Príncipe in Portuguese) are the armed forces of the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, off the coast of West Africa.

The FASTP are very small military, consisting of four branches: Army (Exército), Coast Guard (Guarda Costeira also called "Navy"), Presidential Guard (Guarda Presidencial), 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.

Capabilities

São Tomé and Príncipe'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.^[1]

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).^[2]

Equipments

Weapons

• Uzi^[3]
• Heckler & Koch MP5
• PPS submachine gun
• SKS Carbine^[4]
• AK-47
• AKM
• PK machine gun
• Rheinmetall MG3

Anti Aircraft artillery

• ZPU-2
• ZPU-4
• ZU-23

Anti Armor Weapon

• RPG-7
• SPG-9
• B-10 recoilless rifle

Armoured Vehicles

• BRDM-1
• BRDM-2
• BTR-60^[5]

Utility Vehicles

• Unimog^[6]
• Daihatsu Delta^[7]
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Land Rover Defender

Other

• DPM Camouflage

Coast Guard

• Boat Wilson Sons SY LAEP 10 Águia^[8][9]
• 42-foot Archangel-Class Fast Response Boat^[10]
• 27-foot Boston Whaler Challenger (8.2 m) inshore patrol vessel^[11]
• Zodiac Hurricane Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats

References

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