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Maldives Foreign Military Assistance
Since independence, Comoros has received foreign
military
assistance from Tanzania, France, South Africa, and the
United
States. However, by early 1994, only France and the United
States
continued to provide military aid to Comoros.
Tanzania hoped to keep Comoros away from Western
influence by
providing military aid to President Soilih. However, apart
from
deploying about 100 military advisers to the islands to
train the
army and the Commando Moissi, Tanzania lacks the resources
to
make a significant long-term impact on the Comorian armed
forces.
Historically, France has been the most important
military
player in Comoros. It sought to protect its strategic
interests
in the Indian Ocean and its military installations on the
islands
of Reunion and Mayotte. Even before independence, France
and
Comoros signed a defense agreement in 1973; five years
later, the
two nations concluded a technical military assistance
agreement.
After the downfall of the Soilih regime in 1978, French
military
advisers replaced European mercenaries and guaranteed
Comorian
security. On November 10, 1978, Paris and Moroni signed a
military agreement that provided French training for
Comorian
armed forces and French military assistance in case of an
attack
on the islands. By January 1985, seventy-six Comorian
military
personnel had received training in France, and the French
military had stationed twenty-three advisers in Comoros.
After the assassination of President Abdullah, France
deployed 140 troops from the 21st Marine Paratroop
Regiment and
fifty officers and warrant officers from the Military
Assistance
and Instruction Detachment. According to a December 16,
1989,
statement by President Djohar, the latter unit was
supposed to
remain on the islands for one to two years to train and to
reorganize the Comorian armed forces. However, by early
1994,
France continued to maintain a military presence in
Comoros.
During the late 1980s, South Africa and Comoros
maintained a
discreet but significant military relationship. The South
African
government constructed a radio-monitoring station on the
islands.
Also, according to Indian Ocean Newsletter, Comoros
was a
transshipment point for arms shipments from South Africa
to Iran
and to the Mozambican National Resistance (Resistência
Nacional
Moçambicano--Renamo) rebel movement in Mozambique.
Additionally,
South Africa funded the GP, under Colonel Denard's
command. In
late 1989, South Africa severed its connection to the GP
and
Colonel Denard, thereby allowing France to become the
dominant
foreign military power on the islands.
Since the late 1980s, the United States has maintained
a
small IMET program in Comoros. Initially, five to six
Comorian
officers received basic military training and English
language
instruction in the United States. In 1989 the IMET program
was
expanded to include professional military education and
technical
training courses for a small number of Comorian military
personnel. By the early 1990s, the IMET program
complemented the
ongoing French effort to reorganize the Comorian armed
forces.
Data as of August 1994
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