Guinea-Bissau Revives Military Training Amid Regional Security Challenges

The Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau have officially launched their 2026 combat readiness training, starting Tuesday, March 17, 2026. This eight-month training cycle signals a renewed commitment to defending national sovereignty, according to reports from the newspaper O Democrata.

The training will be conducted in two phases. The first is scheduled from March 2 to June 30 (419 hours). The second is planned from September 1 to December 18 (380 hours). This totals 710 hours of military instruction for the year.

In his address, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Tomas Djassi, emphasized that this new cycle represents not only a fresh phase of training but also a reinforcement of the enduring commitment to national defense.

General Djassi stated that combat readiness is one of the structural pillars of the armed forces. "It is a rigorous and continuous process of instruction, training, and evaluation that enhances the operational capability of our troops," he continued.

"We are consolidating the values that underpin our military identity: discipline, cohesion, professionalism, and a sense of mission," he stressed.

The military chief added that this operation is part of the General Plan for the Preparation and Strengthening of the Armed Forces. During these exercises, the different branches (army, navy, and air force) will conduct specialized training and operational drills aimed at improving the readiness, effectiveness, and responsiveness of units. This comes in a regional context marked by growing security challenges.

General Djassi reaffirmed that combat readiness demands constant commitment, technical rigor, a spirit of sacrifice, and exemplary discipline. For him, each exercise represents a crucial opportunity to strengthen institutions and guarantee effective responses to any threat against national security.

Addressing commanders, he called for firm leadership, a sense of responsibility, and professional rigor in supervising the training cycle. He urged all troops to uphold discipline, determination, and esprit de corps, honoring the values of "honor, loyalty, courage, and patriotism."

The Chief of the Training Operations Division of the General Staff, Brigadier General Abulai Ba, noted that combat readiness is a delicate mission. "Because it involves preparing military personnel to successfully carry out all missions, ensure the security of the population, and contribute to peacekeeping," he explained.

He recalled that Guinea-Bissau initiated this type of training in 1975, with the goal of strengthening the operational capacity of units and sub-units. He acknowledged that in recent years, the operation could not be carried out successfully due to a lack of resources, but stated that the current objective is to reorganize and fully resume the process in coordination with national authorities.

Max Euclide KANFANY — Journalist-Camera Operator