On 19 October, Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president and heir apparent, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, announced the completion of training for the new Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR). This marks a significant milestone for the elite force that was initiated in 2019.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Nguema stated, “Equatorial Guinea now has a Rapid Intervention Brigade.” He presided over the closing ceremony of the first promotion of this brigade, which includes 684 personnel trained across six specialties. Nguema highlighted the brigade’s effectiveness in field exercises and expressed his commitment to equipping them with advanced military technology, including long-range missiles.
During a televised speech at the ceremony, Nguema emphasized the need for a strong military foundation, aiming to make the BIR the strongest military force in the region. He affirmed, “We are going to acquire more sophisticated materiel… We will also have long-range missiles, we are being serious. But the foundation has to be solid, we have to be the strongest military in the region. This is my ambition with the BIR, it is also the ambition of the head of state.”
Nguema also extended gratitude to the Chinese military instructors who have been training the BIR. The ceremony featured a demonstration of the Chinese-made armored vehicles acquired for the brigade, which include the armoured personnel carrier, infantry fighting vehicle, self-propelled gun, mortar carrier, command, and recovery variants of the WZ551 6×6 armored vehicle.
The formation of the Rapid Intervention Brigade signifies a crucial step in strengthening Equatorial Guinea’s defense capabilities and the nation’s commitment to regional security.
