Osoayobami: THE MILITARY IN WEST AFRICA ?Nigerian,ghana,sierra leone all retained military forces at the time of their independence.these armies had all grown out of the colonial royal west african frontier forces(RWAFF).THE RWAFF Had earlier been set up to protect the interest of the british within the west african empire.the army was enlarged at different times to suppress revolt and was essentially a tool for repression.the gambia which is a small country did not have a standing army,but instead had a small field-force of about 50
men.these were like armed policemen.in order to guarantee the loyalty of the military and to make sure units did not go against the interest of the colonial gorverment,africans were kept to the low ranks.most of the officer were british.