Republican Guard

A republican guard is the state organization of a republic which typically serves to protect the president and the government, and thus is usually it is synonymous with Presidential Guard. The term is derived from the original French Gendarmerie unit. Several other countries also have adopted the term and have active guard units.

Republican guard units

Albanian Republican Guard (defunct)

Algerian Republican Guard

Central African Republican Guard — Made up of supporters of President François Bozizé, who helped him rise to power in the 2003 Central African Republic coup d'état. Current status uncertain.

Donetsk People's Republic Republican Guard

Egyptian Republican Guard

French Republican Guard — First Republican Guard, serves as an honor guard and defends Paris. Part of the French Gendarmerie.

Guinean Republican Guard

Iraqi Republican Guard (defunct)

• Iraqi Special Republican Guard — A military force formed from the Iraqi Republican Guard and charged with Saddam Hussein's protection.

Republican Guard (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The Republican Guard (French: Garde Républicaine) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as the Special Presidential Security Group (GSSP), is maintained by President Joseph Kabila. Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) military officials state that the Garde Républicaine is not the responsibility of FARDC, but the Head of State. Apart from Article 140 of the Law on the Army and Defence, no legal stipulation on the DRC's Armed Forces makes provision for the GR as a distinct unit within the national army. In February 2005, President Joseph Kabila passed a decree which appointed the GR's commanding officer and 'repealed any previous provisions contrary' to that decree. The GR is more than 10,000 strong (the ICG said 10,000–15,000 in January 2007), and consists of three brigades, the 10th, at Kinshasa, the 15th, and the 16th, at Lubumbashi. It has better working conditions and is paid regularly, but still commits rapes and robberies nearby their bases.

Republican Guard (France)

The Republican Guard (French: Garde républicaine) is part of the French Gendarmerie. It is responsible for providing guards of honor for the State and security in the Paris area.

Its missions include:

The close physical protection of the President of France is entrusted to the GSPR (Groupe de sécurité de la présidence de la République) a mixed police - gendarmerie unit which is not part of the Guard. The Guard however provides counter-sniper teams (Observateurs-contre-tireurs) and SWAT teams (called pelotons d'intervention or intervention platoons - see below).