The Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People (, abbr. FARP) is the national military of Guinea-Bissau. It consists of an army, a navy, an air force, and paramilitary forces. In 2022 the World Bank estimated that there were around 4,000 personnel in the armed forces. The estimated military expenditure is $23.3 million, and military spending as a percentage of GDP is 1.7%.

The World Fact Book reports that the military service age is 18–25 years of age for selective compulsory military service, and 16 years of age or younger for voluntary service, with parental consent.

Origins

Unlike other European powers during the cold war which engaged in the policy of decolonization the Portuguese Estado Novo instead adopted the policy of Lusotropicalism, arguing that Portugal's colonies in Africa; Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe, where integral parts of Portugal, inseparable from the mainland. As such, each of Portugal's colonial possessions suffered from major insurgencies in the form of the Portuguese Colonial Wars, as African Nationalist and Socialist groups where backed by the Soviet Union, Cuba, and other Communist states to secure their independence, and their geopolitical allegiance to the Second World.Independence redux in postsocialist Mozambique , Alice Dinerman These African forces in Guinea and Cape Verde collaborated, forming the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), with a militant wing, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People (FARP), seeking the independence of both nations as a unified state Guiné e Cabo Verde.Peter Karibe Mendy (2013) Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Scarecrow Press, p305 However, the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence was fought exclusively in Guinea-Bissau, as Cape Verde remained a major Portuguese base supporting their armed forces fighting on the mainland.

The colonial war's unpopularity, and extensive cost in both men and materials on the Portuguese state, eventually led to the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon which saw the Estado Novo overthrown in favor of a socialist government, as such, one of the new government's first acts was to end the colonial wars by surrendering to the liberation movements.Stewart Lloyd-Jones, ISCTE (Lisbon), Portugal's history since 1974, Centro de Documentação 25 de Abril, University of Coimbra Despite their political and military leadership being united, PAIGC's goal of a unified state between Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde failed as Portugal granted both colonies independence, Guinea-Bissau in 1974, and Cape Verde in 1975. PAIGC would rule both Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde until a coup in Guinea-Bissau in 1980 where FARP elements there argued that the government was dominated by Cape Verde interests. As such, the Cape Verde wing of PAIGC would split, forming the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) with its militant wing becoming the Cape Verdean Armed Forces effectively ending any prospective unification of the two states while PAIGC and FARP continued to rule in Guinea-Bissau.Political Parties of the World (6th edition, 2005), ed. Bogdan Szajkowski, page 113.

History 1980 coup d'état

Following independence in 1974, Luís Cabral, the half brother of PAIGC leader Amílcar Cabral who was assassinated just months prior to independence, became the first President of Guinea-Bissau. A Cape Verdean and a mestiço, Cabral's rule would be resented by black nationalist elements of the FARP who viewed Cabral as the embodiment of mestiço economic and political dominance over black Guineans who retained leadership of FARP."Bloodless Coup in Guinea-Bissau". The Sunday People [Monrovia, Liberia] 1980-11-16: 1/8. João Bernardo Vieira, a black FARP officer who had been named Prime Minister in 1978, staged a bloodless coup against Cabral and seize control over Guinea-Bissau with FARP elements loyal to him. Vieira's new government would quickly be recognized by other West African nations, as a nine-member military Council of the Revolution approved a new constitution restoring governance back to PAIGC in 1984. A single-party "election" where only the PAIGC members could stand was held shortly after to establish a new civilian government.Elections in Guinea-Bissau African Elections Database As a result of the coup Cape Verde cut ties and any prospective talk of unification with Guinea-Bissau on January 20, 1981. Aristides Pereira, President of Cape Verde, formally split from PAIGC forming the PAICV alongside several former high-ranking members of PAIGC's political bureau.

1982 coup attempt

Following independence, both FARP and PAIGC operated on a decentralized structure, with local units exerting control over their neighborhoods. This network heavily favored the Balanta by virtue of them being the single largest ethnic group in the country. However Vieira, who was a Papel, sought to upend this Balanta-centric system and sought to reduce their political and military autonomy. In 1981 Vieira restructured PIAGC to be more centralized around the capital of Bissau, a Papal stronghold, which prompted extensive Balanta discontent. A Balanta war hero from the independence war, Paulo Correia, convinced the Bra tank battalion, stationed in Bissau's outskirts, to attempt a coup against the government. The battalion failed to secure the capital due to the presence of other FARP forces, and their commander was executed. Correia, who at the time was serving as the minister of the armed forces was dismissed and made the minister of rural development to minimize his influence on the army. However, Correia would ultimately attempt another coup in 1985 which also failed, resulting in him, and his allies, being executed.

1983 coup attempt

A food shortage would rock Guinea-Bissau in 1983 and by June Vieira had no choice but to reduce the rice ration for FARP soldiers. Anger quickly mounted within FARP, with a clique of young officers threatening Vieira with a coup if he was unable to improve the situation. Meanwhile, Vieira also had military barriers installed across Bissau and invited a Soviet warship to dock in the city, keeping it stationed there for twice as long as it was authorized in case intervention against a coup attempt was needed. Commander Joao de Silva emerged as a leader for the young officers, and was removed from his post. In an attempt to appease the plotters he promised them new uniforms and political privileges, such as first call on rice, and priority over the rest of the population for oil and butter. de Silva and his supporters would be arrested thwarting the coup attempt.

1984 coup attempt

Vieira restructured the political situation in the country around himself and his loyalists, replacing the "Revolutionary Council", the military Junta he established in 1980, with a civilian "Central Committee", however, this committee would also be stuffed with pro-Vieria loyalists. Pro-Balanta sentiments in the country, meanwhile, had not faded despite the foiled 1982 coup, with many Balanta officers still seeking an advancement of Balanta political power in the republic. Vieira sought to hold one-party PAIGC elections, however, would be routinely thwarted by Balanta underlings, namely Victor Saúde Maria who had been his foreign minister since 1981, and then prime minister since 1982. Saúde Maria and other Balanta officials viewed these one party elections as a brazen attempt to solidify power around Vieira and his Papel loyalists, but where unable to stop them being held in 1984. After the election Vieira accused Saúde Maria and high ranking Balanta FARP officers of plotting a coup and had them arrested, abolishing the office of vice-president and arresting Saúde Maria who would ultimately be allowed to flee the country in exile.

1985 coup attempt

In 1986 the government of Guinea-Bissau announced the trial of 12 high ranking politicians and generals, including Vice-President Paulo Correia for plotting to stage a coup. However, some observers claim that the "coup plot" was just a justification for President João Bernardo Vieira to purge dissidents in the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and FARP.

1993 coup attempt

Civil war

2003 coup d'état

The 2003 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état was a bloodless military coup that took place in Guinea-Bissau on 14 September 2003, led by General Veríssimo Correia Seabra against incumbent President Kumba Ialá. Seabra referred to the "incapacity" of Ialá's government as justification for the takeover, together with a stagnant economy, political instability, and military discontent over unpaid salaries."GUINEA-BISSAU: Army ousts president who kept delaying elections", IRIN, 14 September 2003.Bissau junta set to step down, BBC News Online, 18 September 2003. Ialá publicly announced his resignation on 17 September, and a political agreement signed that month prohibited him from participating in politics for five years. A civilian-led transitional government led by businessman Henrique Rosa and PRS secretary general Artur Sanhá was set up at the end of September."Interim government takes over Bissau", BBC News Online, 28 September 2003."GUINEA-BISSAU: Junta insists on Artur Sanha as prime minister", IRIN, 23 September 2003.

2010 military unrest

Major General Batista Tagme Na Waie was chief of staff of the Guinea-Bissau armed forces until his assassination in 2009.

Military unrest occurred in Guinea-Bissau on 1 April 2010. Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior was placed under house arrest by soldiers, who also detained Army Chief of Staff Zamora Induta. Supporters of Gomes and his party, PAIGC, reacted to the move by demonstrating in the capital, Bissau; Antonio Indjai, the Deputy Chief of Staff, then warned that he would have Gomes killed if the protests continued.

The EU ended its mission to reform the country's security forces, EU SSR Guinea-Bissau, on 4 August 2010, a risk that may further embolden powerful generals and drug traffickers in the army and elsewhere. The EU mission's spokesman in Guinea-Bissau said the EU had to suspend its programme when the mastermind of the mutiny, General Antonio Indjai, became army chief of staff. "The EU mission thinks this is a breach in the constitutional order. We can't work with him".EU pull-out hits Guinea-Bissau reforms BBC

2011 coup attempt

The 2011 Guinea-Bissau coup attempt was a failed coup d'état by a group of renegade soldiers. Taking place on the morning of December 26, 2011, fighting broke out between two factions in the armed forces with sounds of automatic weapons and rocket fire erupting in the Santa Luzia army base which alarmed residents in the country's capital of Bissau. Officials claim it started when Navy Chief Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto sent orders to arrest Army Chief Antonio Injai, who was later freed by his men. Afterwards, the Army Chief in turn arrested the Navy Chief for his involvement in the incident however he denied issuing such orders to his troops. The coup failed, and 30 perpetrators were arrested, among them being the Navy Chief for "masterminding the coup."

International drug trade The multitude of small offshore islands and a military able to sidestep government with impunity has made it a favourite trans-shipment point for drugs to Europe. Aircraft drop payloads on or near the islands, and speedboats pick up bales to go direct to Europe or onshore.Africa – new front in drugs war BBC UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called for sanctions against those involved in Guinea-Bissau's drugs trade.BBC, G Bissau drugs sanctions threat

Air Force head Ibraima Papa Camara and former navy chief Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto have been named "drug kingpins".British Broadcasting Corporation, US names two Guinea-Bissau military men 'drug kingpins'

Angolan assistance