Congo, Republic of the
| Author | George Kurian |
| Pages | 310-311 |
Page 310
Official country name: Republic of the Congo
Capital: Brazzaville
Geographic description: An equatorial country on the west coast of central Africa
Population: 3,039,126 (est. 2005)
The National Gendarmerie, heir to the French Gendarmerie, was organized in 1961 as an integral part of the army with a strength of about 500 men. Before 1969 the Gendarmerie headquarters in Brazzaville controlled its territorial units through three subordinate field headquarters: the Southern Command at Pointe-Noire and the Central and Northern Commands at Brazzaville. Additional mobile platoons were located at each command headquarters for use as reserve strike forces during emergencies. In 1969 the territorial organization was modified to conform to the six military zones. The three commands were abolished and the Gendarmerie units were redistributed among the six military zones. Mobile reserve units were retained at Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Dolisie, and Jacob. The Gendarmerie command was integrated into that of the military by placing the senior Gendarmerie unit commander under the authority of the military zone commander.
The police and security forces of Congo consist of the National Gendarmerie and the Sûreté Nationale. The Gendarmerie is a lightly armed provincial or state police based on the French model. The Sûreté Nationale is a relatively small civilian force and investigative unit. It is also known as the National Police or Security Service. It carries out regular urban police duties and is also in charge of immigration control, fraud, black marketing, and certain crimes against the state. It is part of the Directorate General of Security Services under the office of the presidency. The police are also responsible for the operation of the civil defense and the fire department. Motorized elements are equipped with light trucks and jeeps.
Officers are trained at the National Police School in Brazzaville and in the French police academies.
Total Police Personnel: 4,280
Population per Police Officer: 710
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Congo has been through two civil wars...
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