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

Source