Senegal Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 117th
MPR SCORE: 251
MPR Index: 0.0704 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8810 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.523 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Senegal ranks 117th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The Senegalese Armed Forces (Forces Armées Sénégalaises) are widely respected for their professionalism, stability, and consistent contributions to regional peacekeeping operations. As one of the most politically stable countries in West Africa, Senegal’s military plays a key role in internal security, border protection, and maritime surveillance, while actively participating in African Union (AU) and ECOWAS missions across the continent.
The Senegalese military includes the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with specialized units such as the Gendarmerie Nationale and Rapid Intervention Groups. Though modest in size, Senegal’s defense doctrine emphasizes joint training, counterterrorism, and civil-military coordination, with support from France, the United States, and other European partners. Its strategic location along the Atlantic coast and its stable defense institutions make Senegal a vital contributor to West African security architecture.
Strengths
1. Extensive Peacekeeping Experience and Regional Deployment
Senegal is a top contributor to AU, UN, and ECOWAS missions, with troops deployed to Mali, Central African Republic, Congo, and Sudan, providing the military with logistics, interoperability, and field experience in complex security environments.
2. Strong French and U.S. Defense Partnerships
Senegal benefits from extensive military cooperation agreements, hosting joint training exercises and receiving equipment, command, and intelligence support from France, as well as counterterrorism training from U.S. AFRICOM.
3. Integrated Maritime and Land Force Development
The military maintains a functioning navy for coastal patrols, illegal fishing deterrence, and maritime domain awareness, while ground forces are trained for desert operations, urban policing, and border control in volatile regions like Casamance.
Why Senegal Is Still Ranked 117th
1. Limited Conventional Firepower and Heavy Equipment
Senegal’s forces operate mostly light vehicles, rifle-based infantry, and coastal patrol boats, lacking tanks, fighter aircraft, long-range artillery, and integrated air defense, reducing overall deterrent capacity.
2. Modest Defense Budget and Dependence on Foreign Training
The military’s modernization efforts are constrained by budget limitations, and much of its effectiveness stems from foreign training missions, not from fully indigenous capability development or procurement programs.
3. No Strategic Reach or Regional Power Projection
While active in peacekeeping, Senegal does not possess the logistical or operational capacity to project sustained power independently beyond small expeditionary deployments, limiting its influence in high-intensity combat scenarios.
Conclusion
Senegal fields one of West Africa’s most disciplined and diplomatically engaged militaries, oriented toward stability, peacekeeping, and multilateral cooperation. Though modest in conventional strength, the armed forces are a cornerstone of national unity, border integrity, and regional crisis response, benefitting from training partnerships and a well-managed command structure. Its global ranking reflects limited hard power, but its role in continental peace efforts and internal resilience makes Senegal a critical contributor to Africa’s broader security landscape.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: 19,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 5,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 10,000 (Gendarmerie)
Army Personnel: 15,000
Navy Personnel: 2,500
Air Force Personnel: 1,500
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 10 (Older models)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 100+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 30+
Air Force
Combat Aircraft: 8+
Helicopters: 15+
Transport Aircraft: 5+
Aircraft Breakdown:
Dassault Mirage F1 Fighters: 4
Mi-24 Helicopters: 6 (attack and utility)
Naval Forces
Senegal's navy is focused on protecting the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and conducting anti-piracy and maritime security operations.
Patrol Vessels: 10+
Landing Craft: 2
Fast Attack Craft: 5+
Missile Capabilities
Senegal does not possess advanced missile systems or nuclear capabilities. Its military is focused on maintaining internal security, protecting maritime boundaries, and contributing to regional stability through peacekeeping missions.
Strategic Partnerships
Senegal maintains strong defense relations with France, the United States, and other NATO countries, receiving military aid, training, and equipment. It also works closely with the African Union and ECOWAS, playing a pivotal role in peacekeeping operations across Africa. Senegal is a key contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
Military History & Combat Experience
Senegal’s military history is defined by its involvement in regional peacekeeping, border defense, and internal counterinsurgency operations, rather than major wars or international conflict.
Casamance Conflict (1982–present):
The military has conducted a long-running counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region, targeting separatist fighters from the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). Operations focus on jungle patrols, road security, and arms interdiction, with periodic cross-border coordination with The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.UN and African Peacekeeping Missions (1990s–present):
Senegalese forces have been deployed in Mali (MINUSMA), Darfur (UNAMID), Congo (MONUC/MONUSCO), Central African Republic (MISCA/MINUSCA), and Lebanon (UNIFIL). These operations enhance tactical experience, coordination with multinational forces, and engineering/logistics specialization.ECOWAS Operations in Gambia (2017):
As part of ECOMIG, Senegal led the ECOWAS intervention in The Gambia to pressure then-President Yahya Jammeh to step down following election loss. The successful mission reaffirmed Senegal’s position as a regional enforcement actor and demonstrated its ability to lead joint deployments.Counterterrorism and Sahel Security Cooperation:
Though Senegal has not faced a full-scale jihadist insurgency, its forces are actively involved in regional counterterror drills, intelligence sharing, and border reinforcement, especially along the eastern frontier near Mali and Mauritania.
Senegal’s military record showcases a professional, regionally active, and diplomatically aligned force, experienced in internal suppression, coalition peacekeeping, and crisis response. While not a high-capacity warfighting force, it plays a key role in continental stabilization and multinational security cooperation.
General Information
Senegal
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~18.6 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~6.3 million
Geographic Area: 196,722 km²
Land Boundaries: 2,640 km
Bordering Countries: Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania
Coastline: 531 km
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season May–November
Terrain: Low, rolling plains; foothills in southeast
Natural Resources: Fish, phosphates, gold, oil, natural gas
Proven Oil Reserves: ~500 million barrels (developing offshore fields)
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~20 trillion cubic feet
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$950 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~2.1%
GDP (PPP): ~$85 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$4,500
External Debt: ~$12 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Steady; regional security, Sahel stabilization
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Internal security, border control, peacekeeping
Military Industry Base: Limited; uniforms, repair, light munitions
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Developing
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into regions under Senegalese Armed Forces HQ
Missile Inventory Highlights: MANPADS, artillery, short-range systems
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–45 days
Reservist Force Size: ~40,000
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM), National Security Agency
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: France, G5 Sahel, ECOWAS
Airports (Total): ~20
Major Military Airports: Dakar, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~25 vessels
Major Ports: Dakar, Ziguinchor
Naval Infrastructure: OPVs, coastal patrol boats, marine units
Naval Replenishment Capability: Moderate coastal reach
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~900 km (limited activity)
Roadways: ~17,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: Starting in 2024/25 (~100,000 barrels/day projected)
Energy Imports: Will decline with offshore production
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Developing with offshore energy projects
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Ammunition, light arms, logistics
Military Installations (Domestic): Dakar, Kaolack, Tambacounda
Military Installations (Overseas): Peacekeeping missions (Mali, CAR)
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: French forces in Dakar
Defense Alliances: ECOWAS, AU, France
Strategic Airlift Capability: C-295, CN-235, helicopters
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Moderate for regional standards
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Modest; coastal surveillance, digital security
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Port logistics, national construction corps, energy export facilities
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Dakar
Founding Date: April 4, 1960 (independence from France)
System of Government: Unitary presidential republic
