Sao Tome and Principe
Military: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP); also called "Navy"), Presidential Guard (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 39,182
females age 16-49: 39,845 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,310
females age 16-49: 29,279 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,076
female: 2,003 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
country comparison to the world: 161
Military - note:
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)
Transnational Issues: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
Disputes - international:
none