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Zaire NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: Zairian Armed Forces (Forces
Armées
Zaïroises--FAZ) consisting of army, navy, air force, and
paramilitary gendarmerie, which also functions as nation's
primary
police organization. Total FAZ strength estimated at
49,100 in
1993, including 25,000 army, 1,300 navy, 1,800 air force,
and
21,000 gendarmerie personnel. In addition, 10,000-member
Civil
Guard, not technically part of the FAZ, performs integral
national
security and police role. Official FAZ mission is to
defend country
against all internal and external threats, but in practice
primary
task has been suppressing perceived internal threats to
the Mobutu
regime.
Major Military Units: Army most significant
military
force; most capable and trusted unit is elite Special
Presidential
Division (Division Spéciale Présidentielle--DSP). In
chaotic
political and security situation of early 1990s, DSP only
military
unit regularly paid, and thus loyal and effective
instrument of
control.
Military Equipment: Wide variety of poorly
maintained
equipment, mostly of United States, French, and Chinese
origin.
Most equipment not operational because of shortages of
spare parts,
poor maintenance, and theft.
Foreign Military Relations: Since independence,
country
has benefited from variety of foreign military assistance,
especially from Belgium, France, United States, and
Israel, also
China and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North
Korea). But
Western nations terminated military assistance in early
1990s
because of widespread human rights abuses and prevailing
nationwide
chaos.
Internal Security Forces: Two national
organizations
performing police and internal security functions:
21,000-member
National Gendarmerie and 10,000-member Civil Guard, both
ineffective, suffering from poor training, discipline, and
equipment, and unreliable pay. Many members contribute to
lawlessness by practicing banditry and extortion.
Data as of December 1993
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