Tanzanian People's Defence Force

The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) is the armed forces of Tanzania. They were set up in September 1964, following a mutiny by the former colonial military force: the Tanganyika Rifles. From its inception, it was ingrained in the troops of the new TPDF that they were a people’s force under civilian control. Unlike some of its neighbors, Tanzania has never suffered a coup d'état or civil war.

The TPDF was given a specific mission: to defend Tanzania and everything Tanzanian, especially the people and their political ideology. Tanzanian citizens are able to volunteer for military service from fifteen years of age, and eighteen years of age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary school. Conscript service obligation was two years as of 2004.