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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Sudan
Index
Armed Forces: In 1991 Sudanese People's Armed Forces
(SPAF) totaled approximately 71,500 personnel; army had about
65,000; air force and Air Defense Command each had about 3,000;
navy had about 500.
Major Tactical Units: SPAF organized into six regional
commands having divisional structures. Main units: two armored
brigades, one mechanized infantry brigade, one airborne brigade,
one air assault brigade, seventeen infantry brigades, three
artillery regiments, two antiaircraft artillery brigades, and one
engineering regiment. Strengths of brigades, battalions, and
companies varied greatly. Air force organized into two fighterground attack squadrons and two fighter squadrons, of which only
one functioning, plus transport squadron, unarmed helicopter
squadron, and training aircraft. Air Defense Command equipped
with radar-directed antiaircraft guns and Soviet SA-2 missiles.
Naval forces, under army command, had some functioning river
patrol boats but little or no capacity to patrol Red Sea coast.
Much of armed forces equipment nonoperational because of poor
maintenance and lack of spare parts.
Civil War: Since 1983 armed rebellion has been
conducted by forces of Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) with
estimated strength of 50,000 to 60,000 in 1991. SPLA controlled
most rural areas of south, government forces holding out under
siege conditions in major towns. SPLA armed with light weapons,
shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles, some artillery and rocket
launchers, and a few armored vehicles. Government forces assisted
by tribal militia groups, which guilty of many atrocities against
civilians in south. Government also organizing paramilitary body
called Popular Defence Forces.
Military Assistance: Most military equipment supplied
by Soviet Union, 1968-71; limited cooperation with Soviet Union
continued until 1977. Egypt and China subsequently became
prominent suppliers. In early 1980s, United States became
principal source of aid, notably aircraft, tanks, armored
vehicles, and artillery. United States aid sharply reduced in
1983 and formally terminated in 1989.
Defense Costs: Official data unavailable; defense
budget estimated at US$610 million in 1989, constituting 7.2
percent of gross national product.
Internal Security Forces: National police (Sudan Police
Force) totaled about 30,000. State Security Organisation main
instrument of domestic intelligence and internal security until
1985. After 1989 military coup, separate Islamic-oriented
security bodies formed to suppress opposition to regime.
Data as of June 1991
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