Country report and updates: Oman

1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1970. [1] [2]

Oman does have the fourth highest per capita military expenditure of any country in the world. [1]

recruitment

The armed forces have difficultiy attracting the requisite number of recruits. About 10 percent of the army rank-and-file are foreigners.

After the achievement of independence in 1970, initially nearly all officers were Baluchis from Pakistan, except for senior commanders who were British. This situation has changed, and nowadays most officers are Omanis. [1]

2 Conscientious objection

There is no known legal provision for conscientious objection.

3 Desertion

No information available.

6 Annual statistics

The armed forces are 43,500-strong, that is 2.12 percent of the population. [3]

Sources

[1] US Library of Congress 1993. Persian Gulf States - a country study. Area Handbooks, State Department, Washington DC. [2] Eide, A., C. Mubanga-Chipoya 1985. Conscientious objection to military service, report prepared in pursuance of resolutions 14 (XXXIV) and 1982/30 of the Sub-Commission of Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. United Nations, New York. [3] Institute for Strategic Studies 1997. Military Balance 1997/98. ISS, London.