Malian Armed Forces (FAMa): Army (Armee de Terre; includes a riverine patrol force), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM); National Gendarmerie; National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2020)
note(s): the Gendarmerie and the National Guard are under the authority of the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Ministere De La Defense Et Des Anciens Combattants, MDAC), but operational control is shared between the MDAC and the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection
the Gendarmerie's primary mission is internal security and public order; its duties also include territorial defense, humanitarian operations, intelligence gathering, and protecting private property, mainly in rural areas
the National Guard is a military force responsible for providing security to government facilities and institutions, prison service, public order, humanitarian operations, some border security, and intelligence gathering; it has special units on camels (the Camel Corps) for patrolling the deserts and borders of northern Mali
Algerian People's National Army (ANP): Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes coast guard), Air Forces, Territorial Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard (under ANP, but responsible to the President), National Gendarmerie; Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of National Security (2021)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service (men and women); 2-year conscript service obligation (2019)
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 19-30 years of age for compulsory service; conscript service obligation reduced from 18 to 12 months in 2014 (2019)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2.7% of GDP (2019)
2.9% of GDP (2018)
3% of GDP (2017)
2.6% of GDP (2016)
2.4% of GDP (2015)
6% of GDP (2019)
5.5% of GDP (2018)
5.8% of GDP (2017)
6.6% of GDP (2016)
6.3% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 18,000 total troops (13,000 Army; 800 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie; 2,000 National Guard) (2020)
the Algerian People's National Army (ANP) has approximately 130,000 total active personnel (110,000 Army; 6,000 Navy; 14,000 Air Force); estimated 140,000 National Gendarmerie (information varies widely) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAMa's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years it has received limited quantities of mostly second-hand armaments from more than 15 countries (2020)
the ANP's inventory includes mostly Russian-sourced equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of armaments to Algeria, followed by China and Germany (2020)
