The president of Gabon is the designated chief of state as well as the supreme commander of national defense. The minister of defense is the civilian administrator of the armed forces. While the Republican Guard reports directly to the president, it is administered via the Defense Ministry. The Gendarmerie is also placed under the authority of the president. Service is voluntary and for one year. The air asset deployment is a little hazy, with some sources claiming these are all under the Air Force; others show respective air units for the Republican Guard, Army Light Aviation, and the Gendarmerie, and one shows the Republican Guard's ground assets under the purview of the Army and air assets under the Air Force.
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