Congo, Republic of

 

reliability 5 (very poor)   GNP $13-billion 2009   budget  ~$200-million 2009   Personnel 8-10,000,   Gendarmerie 2000.    Though the government began a headcount of military personnel in 2005, it is unclear if the government has an exact figure. We have no independent information on Republic of Congo’s army. The figures below are from the IISS, repeated in every open source publication. The IISS estimate is likely obsolete.

 

Oil

 

Republic of Congo has assumed a new importance because it is Africa’s 5^th largest oil producer with reserves of 1.5-billion barrels. Its production in 2009 is approximately 360,000-bbl/day and is expected to decline. Actual figures are difficult to come by and there have been attacks on oil infrastructure. Because of a 100,000-bbl/day increase since 2007, the country’s GDP reduction on account of the 2008-09 oil price decline is modest compared to most other producers.

 

Declines in mature fields will be made up when new fields come on stream. The country has the 3^rd largest gas reserves in Africa: 3.2 trillion cubic feet. Most production is associated with oil extraction and is flared or reinjected.

 

A program to demobilize ~30,000 rebel combatants and to integrate some of them into the country’s security forces was completed in 2008, though several thousand militia are still armed, mainly south of Brazzaville.  US has trained a small number of officers for counter-terrorism through IMET (yearly figures vary, 2008 ~20). Though officially the civil war has ended, clashed with rebels groups still take place. The country is considered unstable because of corruption, a high debt burden, and simmering unrest.

 

Organization (figures not reliable)

 

1 battalion Republican Guard

2 armored battalions (understrength)

2 infantry battalion groups each

            1 light tank troop

            1 light gun battery

            1 infantry battalion

1 artillery battalion (howitzer, MRL)

1 engineer battalion  

1 airborne/commando battalion

 

Aircraft (Air Force)

 

5+ helicopters (France and Russia)

7   Transport aircraft (Russia)

 

equipment

 

MBT RECON	40 25
APC ARTY	<70 <30
MRL AD	<15 30

 

 

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