Mozambique Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra de Mocambique, MGM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM)

Ministry of Interior: National Police (PRM), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR; police special forces), Border Security Force (2020)

note: the FADM and Ministry of Interior forces are referred to collectively as the Defense and Security Forces (DFS)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2019)

1% of GDP (2018)

1% of GDP (2017)

1% of GDP (2016)

0.8% of GDP (2015)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 11,000 personnel (10,000 Army; 200 Navy; 1,000 Air Force) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although since 2010 it has received limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of countries, mostly as aid/donations (2020)

Military service age and obligation

registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2019)

Military - note

the Government of Mozambique is facing a growing insurgency driven by militants with ties to the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS-Mozambique, which was declared a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021) in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; insurgent attacks in the province began in 2017 and as of early 2021, the fighting had left an estimated 2,500 dead and nearly 700,000 displaced; the FADM is widely assessed as lacking the training, equipment, and overall capabilities to address the insurgency (2020)

NOTE: The information regarding Mozambique on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mozambique 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mozambique 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.