after achieving independence in 1962, the air force was formed with the aid of belgium, the initial aircraft consisted of three ex-french air force cm.170 magisters, which operated in a counterinsurgency role along with a britten-norman islander. other deliveries included sa 342l gazelles, nord noratlas, socata guerrier, c-47 skytrains. after fighting began between the rpa and the government in 1990 most aircraft were shot down, destroyed on the ground or crashed.