Press release: Paris, Aug 24 1998 - The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) threatens to become increasingly internationalised. Here is a breakdown of the armed forces and equipment available to neighbouring countries. ANGOLA: Total armed forces 110,500 troops, including army 98,000 troops, navy 1,500 to 2,000 men and air force 11,000 men. Paramilitaries total 15,000 men. The Angolan armed forces are among the best-equipped in the region. Around 1,000 elite troops are believed to have entered the DRC in support of government forces. However, they have an ulterior motive - that is to remove any UNITA bases that exist on the border. Angola has 100 T-54 and T-55 battle tanks, also 150 T-62 and 50 T-72 tanks. It has 50 BMP-1 and 100 BMP-2 armoured combat vehicles, and more than 40 BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles. It also has 100 BTR-60 and BTR-152 armoured vehicles. It has 300 76 mm, 85 mm, 122 mm and 130 mm artillery pieces and some 100 mm and SU-100 assault guns. The Angolan air force comprises 27 combat aircraft, including six Mig-23, four Su-22, four Su-25 and four Mig-21, and 26 armed helicopters, including 15 Mi-25/35. RWANDA: Total armed forces 62,000 troops, including 55,000 land forces and 7,000 gendarmes. Rwanda has some AML-245, AML-60 and AML-90 reconnaissance vehicles, some BTR 152, Panhard and RG-31 Nyala armed personnel carriers, and 105 mm and 122mm artillery. It has two Russian Mi-24 combat helicopters. UGANDA: Total armed forces between 40,000 and 55,000 troops. There are also 600 paramilitary forces. Uganda has 80 T-54 and T-55 battle tanks, 20 PT-76 light tanks, 20 BTR-60 and 40 OT-64 SKOT armoured vehicles, some 76 mm and 122 artillery, and five Mi-17 combat helicopters. ZIMBABWE: Total armed forces 39,000 men, including land forces 35,000 and air force 4,000. There are also 21,800 paramilitaries. The armed forces are British-trained and considered among the most effective on the continent. Zimabwean sources say fewer than 600 men are committed in the DRC, while diplomatic sources in Harare put the figure at up to 800 Zimbabwean troops already in the RDC. Zimbabwe has 22 T-59 and 10 T-69 combat tanks, with 90 EE-9 Cascavel reconnaissance vehicles carrying 90 mm guns. It also has 30 YW-531 and UR-416 APCs, along with 75 Crocodile and 23 ACMAT armoured vehicles. Its artillery includes 16 towed 122 mm guns, with 12 PRC type-60 guns and 4 PRC type-54. The Zimbabwe air force has 56 combat aircraft, including 11 Hunter and 11 Hawk and 12 Mig-21, and 24 armed helicopters. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: The International Institute for Strategic Studies has no figures for the total armed forces of the DRC. Prior to the current rebellion, President Laurent Kabila said the armed forces totalled 140,000 men, including a variety of differing groups such as former troops of the Zairean army, young rebel troops, tribal elements such as the Mai-Mai of Kivu province, and more recent recruits. It is unknown how many troops have passed over to the rebels. The 15,000 Mai-Mai, though poorly armed, are traditionally anti-Rwandan and are almost certain to remain loyal to Kabila. The country possesses 20 T-59 and 40 T-62 combat tanks, 60 AML reconnaissance vehicles, 84 armoured personnel carriers, artillery pieces of 75 mm, 85 mm, 122 mm and 130 mm. No figures are available for the air force. Back to Frontline Vol. 1 Iss. 2 Table of Contents Back to Frontline List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Rolfe Hedges This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com