NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 62; MALAGASY REPUBLIC; ARMED FORCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NIS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080037-7
• Release Decision: RIF
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2016
• Sequence Number: 37
• Content Type: REPORTS

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Malagasy
Republic
CONTENTS
This chapter cuper.wdry the arm cd Jorrc.e corrr-
agd. in the Gcucral Surrell dated ArIgust 1968.
A. Defense establishment 1
1. Military history 3
2. Command structure 3
B. joint activities v
1. Military manpower 3
i
P. Strength trends 4
3. Training 4
4. NIi!;tary budget 5
S. Logi.:tics
C. Arm 3
I. Organization 6
2. Strength, composition, and disposition 6
(:mFII)FNTIAI. No Foam DissEm
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Page
3. Training 6
4. Logistics 6
D Nav 7
E. Airforce 8
Page
F. Paramilitary forces 9
1. National Gendarmerie 9
2. Mobile Police Force 11
3. Civic Service 11
FIGURES
Page
Fig. 1
Defense organization chart) 2
Fig. 2
Strength trends table) 4
Fig. 3
Military academy cadets (photo) 5
Fig. 4
Dodge 1Y2-ton truck (photo) 7
Fig. 5
Ferret MK. 2 scout car photo) 7
Fig. 6
M3A1 scout car photo) 7
Fig. 7
Motor gunboat Mailaka photo) 8
ii
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8
Patrol craft Fa.nantenana (photo)
8
Fig.
9
Naval infantry photo)
8
Fig.
10
Unimog utility vehicle (photo)
10
Fig.
11
Armored halftrack vehicle (photo)
10
Fig.
12
FRS troops photo)
11
Fig.
13
Coast guard boat photo)
11
Fig.
14
Civic Service troops photo)
12
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firmed Forges
A. Defense establishment (C)
'I'll(- armed forces of Nladagascar (IMalagasy
Republic) consist of a LOUD -nian arnny, a �135 -11"itt
navy and snial; patrol craft, and a ISI- niz,n air force
Mid 1 -1 aircraft, 6 of which are old C- -I1 light
transports. t In addition, there are three paramilitary
forces; the most significant is the -1,600 -ratan National
Gendarnerie, which is regarded as part of the defense
forces. Some paramilitary functions are perforated by
the Mobile Folice Force (300 then) :ltd the Civic
Service (2,100 nien). Except for the gendarmerie, all
arntcd and other paramilitary f rces are under the
control of the Armed Forces thief of Staff.
Under the conditions of Frallea-- accords
signed at independence. Xladagascar has been heavily
dependent (,)n French forces and French material
assistance for its national defense. The renep ti.ttian of
the accords in 197 however, will significantly chwige
the Franco- N9alagasy defense relationship. M ost
French forces in the count -y will be withdraws, by late
'973 except for a naval detachment at the important
Diego Suarez naval base. Although the Malagasy
Government will have sovereignty ever this base, there
will be joint control over 'he naval dockyard, and
France Nyill retain access to the facility on an anw.al
renewal basis. French support wi11 probably be
reduced under the circumstances. but it is unlikely to
be cut off completely.
As it result of dependence on France, the Malagasy
security forces have been basically concerned with
internal security. The gend organized and
developed by the French during the colonial period, is
the best trained and equipped organization and is the
country's main internal security force. None of the
security forces, however, has either large or
sophisticated weapons systems. Ground forces have no
artillery and only lightly armored vehicles with
mounted machinegills. The navy has only a minor
combat capability craft, and the air force has no
combat aircraft.
'For regillarh updated information on these armed forces. see the
current edition of the Military Intelligence Surnrmary, published b
the Defense Intellig�nce Aizencs.
The primary mission of the arned forces is to
maintain internal security In the Fast the army has
never had to develop it capability to defet:cl the
country against an external attack because of the
presence of French farces; instead the army bas served
JS a backup farce to the gendarmerie in the internal
role and engaged in civic action pro; runs. The
expected reduction in French assistance may cause a
serious decline in the overall capabilities of Malagasy
farces. Un their a%yn they would not be capable of
defending the country from attack by a modern
invasion farce. In addition to the absence of a serious
external threat, internal defense is snow important
because of the potent:,,; threat posed by competing
tribal, political, and nationalist groups. Despite these
underlying problems, the gendarmerie, su;tported by
lenuents of the armed farces, is cunsidC.-Ud capable of
maintaining internal security as long as French
advisers are present.
Tribal differences have effected the alignment of
the arntcd forces. The arni% is composed mainly of
members of the Xlerina tribe. who inhabit the central
plateau re ;t
contains two armoreel squadrons. a mobile squudrem. a
nixed squadron with nwbile troops and arnowd
vehicles, and ;a paratroop platoon. "Three recently
organized squadrons are probabl\ also assigned to the
Intervention Group. Regional grottpetttc'nts are
headquartered at 'I'anatavc, Diego- Suarez, \lajunga,
Tulear, and Fianarantsoa. The latter has beet
reinforced with a nnixed detachment since the 1971
(list a rba nces.
The gendarnuvric has the same type of \yc ;aeons and
equipment as the ariny� I -rench snall arms, both
ntnn and .50 caliber ni achineguns, 81 -nnnn nortars.
jeeps, it varic t of trucks (1 a/ to i ton). and lightly
FIGURE 10. The Unimog, a modern four wheel -drive
gendarmerie vehicle, is ideal for use in the Malagasy
Republic, which has poor roads (U /OU)
armored vehicles (I igtre li). Both army and
gendarmerie ant or(-(l units use Ferret I k.2 and
\I:iA I scum cars Anne vehicles are painted olive
drab, but those of the gcndarnuvrie are blue. Two
Vehicles unique to the gendarmerie are the West
Gerrttan -made l'nintog utility vehicle )Figure II)t all
the l'.S. -hniIt arntore�el haIftraA (I igetre I I The
l'nintog is th:� newest niIitary \ehiele acquired b\ this
force and illustrates the preference given to the
genda;tnerie. The halftrack is significant because it
+;iyes the force offroad capabilit\ enabling rabid
cleplo\ ment in rugged rural areas. Hic gvndarnterie
receives sonav logistic support front the ar ,n. but it has
been ultituately dependent on France fur weapons,
anununition. equipnu'nl, and other nilitary tore",
and French adviser, have assist eel tla� pratgran. The
impact of the probable decre;;,v in French advisory
support will be most sigttific ,ut in the gendarmerie
because of this fnrce's importance as the countr%'s
stain internal sec(triI\ organization. ;1lthongh it is
unlikely that all French advisers ill be withdrawn. a
reduction is gtite possible, and this woul(1 reduce force
capabilitie
FIGURE 11. A U.S.- built, World War II M -2 halftrack
used 'by the gendarmerie. The 10 -ton armored vehicle,
used for reconnaissance, mounts a heavy machine
gun. (U /OU)
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'Training in Ifie gendarmerie is good. Basic recrufl
training is accoinplished at the (;endarnu�rie School at
Moranranga, which has been heavily staffed b the
rench. The I rench presence in this x howl has been
lit rgelN reslnnsible for the continuance c( their
considerable influence ill the force despite the gradual
reduction of the number of ad iu�rs since independ-
ence. The school has it staff of about (itt inst;nctors, it
c;tpacih of 600 Indents, and, in addition to recruit
training, If( rs technical and 1)tofessinnal ;rcl-
vancenwnt courses. 'Training for gendarnes is more
c�ontllreheuskv than for the regular militan 1-cause
they operale in mall units and pvrforn 11uu1%
functions in rural areas where the: are the onl
government authority. Cendarinerie officers are either
the toll graduates of the tnilitan ucadvin% or haw e
been trained in France. The force nrlll:dl\
partic�ilrites in the annual joint ;Ind combined
exercises but onls in a supporting role. Little
information is available on unit trai;iim in the
gendarmerie: however. training of ;Iris type 1lrobablc
involves cfelrloyi-ent exercises by the Intenrntion
;rcmtl).
2. Mobile Police Force
In early 197.3 the M-pi bjica n Securit\ Force (*115)
\%as renamed the Mobile Police Force t l \1 P) and is
living reorganized, details of which are not a\ailable.
It is it %\e11- awned special police unit designed as it
rapid reaction securit\ force. The FBS lorce as
formed in 1965 under the direction of the Minister of
Interior: initial training and tnaterivI \crrc� supplied b\
the Israelis. F.arly in 1971. President 'F iranana took
personal c�ontrnl of the 1.16 front the then Minister of
Interior A lid re Resatnpa, in or(ler to din,inish
liesarnp is po wvr base. The force'- mission. hic�h it is
potentially capable of perforrming, is riot control and
other internal sec�(nrih dutie IIO"v er. its once
sterling image has liven damaged b political intrigue
and its overreaction bs firing on trnarnned
demonstrators (luring the Mat, 1972 (list(rrbances.
Prior to the reorganization. the FITS etas subordinate
to the armed Forces :hief of Staff. It ";is organized
into it head(Itiarters. six c�oinpa nies. and it coast ,guard
(ti;it. Follnaing the reorganization, the I -\1P total
personnel strength w;is rcdiic�e(I to 300 but ill
eventually resent(� its former strength of 1.000 troops.
Personnel are voibmteers from the ranks of the regular
police, and nearl\ all are members of the coastal
tribes. FMF units (Figure 12) are located in
'Tananarive, it Meriva tribal area. and are e(li iPped
kith 7.62 mm F\ light automatic rifles and 9 nun
l`ZI strbrnachincgiins provided bs the Israelis.
The coast guard unit. located at the \lajtulga
0)astid Basu. is ectuipped ccilh four inoperable -13 -foul
bvi ulrix- c�f.>ss patrol Imats Fi411re I acllnired ;is
grant aid from \'est ;er11un\ in 1965. Fach Imal is
arined ill1 it -Ili -111111 gun, but 111aiulenanc�e is
praclic�all\ nonexistent. These boats \tert� acquired to
1111pp1c11u�nt the na\ c k pro\ iding close -in coastal
patrol. The coast -1uard. huccc\er. has nu capabilik to
acc�onnllish this 111ission.
The I:MP probahl\ rt�eekes most of its logistic
`>tf >1 >ort throlrgh (it(- m itional Iolice but remains
deiendent on foreign sources for awns and
anitnnnition. 'I'hc former FBS \c�adenls. it sniall
training school. is hwated in div s:i11ri connlound as
the \lilitarc \cadenn at \ntsiribe. Little is knot\n of
joint training \tith other parainilitar\ forces.
3. :i% Sct �ice
The Cis is Sen ice 11 i t; i i re 1 I i is ;1 minor
par inilitarc force kno\cn mr.link for its civic action
prograins. Its mission is to undertake rural
de\ehy 11ent projects and to scree as a reser\e internal
secnrit\ force. \1ilitan capabilities are limited to
minor sec�urit\ duties, such as guarding installations.
The :i\ is S(-r\ ic�e co11unander is dirt�c�tl\ responsible
to the arm\ coinnimider. The force is organized into it
FIGURE 13. Coast guard boats, which are inoperable,
are anchored off the west coast ports of Tulear and
Ma junga (C)
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FIGURE 12. Well-armed Republican Security Force troops
on parade in Tananarive, where they are distrusted by
the local, predominantly Merina, population (U /OU)

CON iI VENTLA 1.
headquarters company and 15 field companies located
in rural areas. Total strength of this organization is
about 2,100 men, including some French advisers. A
field company is composed of about 100 men, who are
normally unarmed. "These units are engaged in diverse
programs, s::ch its public health, education, road
construction, irrigation, and agricultural instruction.
All logistical support comes from dw army. Civic
Service troops are equipped with old iwh- action rifles
and it few submachineguns of French origin. Recruits
receive months of basic training at a camp near
Antsirabc that can accommodate about 140. This
training emphasizes civic action, but it also includes
military drill and small arms instruction. A separate
Civic Service Academy provides sonic advanced
courses, again emphasizing civic action.
12 NO FOBEK;N ICI SSEM CoxFIDEN ri:M.
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FIGURE 14. Civic Service personnel on parade carrying
shovels (U /OU)