Top 10 Strongest Military in Africa (2024)

Africa is a continent with a diverse range of militaries, from the highly advanced and well-equipped forces of Algeria and Egypt to the smaller and less well-funded armies of many sub-Saharan states. However, despite their differences, all of Africa’s militaries play an important role in maintaining regional stability and security.

In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 10 strongest militaries in Africa in 2024. These militaries have been ranked based on a variety of factors, including their size, budget, equipment, and training.

WHY ARE STRONG MILITARIES IMPORTANT IN AFRICA?

There are a number of reasons why strong militaries are important in Africa. First, they help to deter and defend against external aggression. Africa has a long history of being invaded by foreign powers, and strong militaries can help to protect the continent from future incursions.

Second, strong militaries can help to maintain internal stability. Africa has a number of countries that are plagued by conflict and instability. Strong militaries can help to suppress violence and protect civilians.

Third, strong militaries can play a role in development. Militaries can be used to build infrastructure, provide medical assistance, and deliver humanitarian aid. They can also help to train people and develop skills.

WHAT IS A STRONG MILITARY?

A strong military is one that is well-equipped, well-trained, and well-funded. It should also have a clear mission and doctrine. Strong militaries are able to deter and defend against external aggression, maintain internal stability, and play a role in development.

HOW ARE MILITARY STRENGTHS MEASURED?

There are a number of ways to measure military strength. Some common factors include:

• Size: The size of a military is measured by the number of active personnel it has.
• Budget: The military budget is a measure of how much money a country spends on its military.
• Equipment: The quality and quantity of a military’s equipment is a key indicator of its strength.
• Training: The level of training of a military’s personnel is also an important factor.

In addition to these factors, other considerations such as morale, leadership, and experience can also play a role in determining the strength of a military.

In the next section of this blog post, we will take a look at the top 10 strongest militaries in Africa in 2024, based on the factors discussed above.

TOP 10 STRONGEST MILITARIES IN AFRICA (2024)

Here is the ranking of Africa’s top 10 strongest militaries in terms of personnel strength and firepower.

EGYPTIAN MILITARY

Egypt has the largest and most powerful military in Africa with a budget estimated to be over $5 billion, which is the highest African military spending for a country. The Egyptian military is a highly professional and well-equipped force with a strong track record in combat. Egypt has a wide range of military capabilities, including a strong air force and navy. The Egyptian military has also been playing a leading role in the fight against terrorism in the region.

Egypt’s military equipment is primarily Russian-made, but Egypt has also been acquiring military equipment from the United States and other Western countries in recent years.

Some of Egypt’s most notable military equipment includes:

• Air Force: Egypt has a large and well-equipped air force, including MiG-29, Su-35, and Rafale fighter jets. Egypt also has a number of transport aircraft and helicopters.
• Navy: Egypt has a growing navy, which includes two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, four Gowind-class corvettes, and a number of fast attack craft and submarines.
• Army: Egypt has a large and well-equipped army, including tanks, artillery, and armored personnel carriers. Egypt also has a number of special forces units and its .

ALGERIAN MILITARY

Algeria has the second largest military budget in Africa and a well-equipped force of over 400,000 active personnel. The Algerian military is known for its focus on air power and its extensive use of Russian-made equipment. Algeria has also been investing heavily in its military in recent years, modernizing its equipment and training its personnel.

Algeria has the second largest military budget in Africa, after Egypt. In 2023, Algeria is expected to spend $13.3 billion on its military, which represents 2.8% of its GDP. This is a significant increase from 2022, when Algeria spent $12.5 billion on its military.

The Algerian military budget is used to fund a wide range of activities, including:

• Personnel costs: Salaries, benefits, and training for military personnel
• Equipment: Acquisition and maintenance of military equipment
• Operations: Costs associated with conducting military operations, such as fuel, food, and ammunition
• Infrastructure: Development and maintenance of military infrastructure, such as bases and training facilities

SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY

South Africa has the third largest military in Africa, having a budget of over $4 billion. The South African military is a highly capable force with a strong focus on technology. South Africa has a number of indigenous defense industries that produce a wide range of military equipment. The South African military has also been involved in peacekeeping operations around the world.

South Africa has a well-developed defense industry that produces a wide range of military equipment. South African military technology is known for its high quality and affordability.

Some of South Africa’s most notable military technology includes:

• Rooivalk attack helicopter: The Rooivalk is a highly maneuverable and well-armed attack helicopter that is used by the South African Air Force.
• Badger infantry fighting vehicle: The Badger is a heavily armored infantry fighting vehicle that is used by the South African Army.
• G5 towed howitzer: The G5 is a powerful towed howitzer that is used by the South African Army.

MOROCCAN MILITARY

Morocco is ranked as the fourth largest military force in Africa with a budget of over $3 billion. The Moroccan military is a well-equipped force with a focus on mobility and firepower. Morocco has been investing heavily in its military in recent years, modernizing its equipment and training its personnel. The Moroccan military has also been playing a key role in the fight against terrorism in the region.

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (RMAF) are the military forces of Morocco. The RMAF are a well-equipped and well-trained force with a focus on mobility and firepower.

The RMAF have a wide range of military capabilities, including:

• Air Force: The RMAF Air Force has a number of fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters.
• Navy: The RMAF Navy has a number of frigates, corvettes, and fast attack craft.
• Army: The RMAF Army has a number of tanks, artillery, and armored personnel carriers.
• The RMAF Army also has a number of special forces units.
• The RMAF have played a key role in the fight against terrorism in the region. The RMAF have also been involved in peacekeeping operations around the world.

NIGERIAN MILITARY

Nigeria was once ranked as the country with the strongest army in Africa, due to its role in various peace-keeping mission within the continent. This year, the Nigerian Armed Forces has the fifth largest military in Africa, with its defense budget  estimated to be over $2 billion. The Nigerian military is a large and well-equipped force with a focus on counter-insurgency operations. Nigeria has been involved in a number of conflicts in recent years, including the fight against Boko Haram.

The Nigerian military is one of the largest and most well-equipped militaries in Africa. It has a long history of training its personnel to a high standard. The Nigerian military training system is designed to produce well-disciplined, well-trained, and combat-ready soldiers.

Its Basic military training (BMT) is the foundation of all Nigerian military training. It is a rigorous 12-week program that covers all aspects of basic military skills, including: Drill and ceremony, Physical fitness, Weapons handling, Tactics and survival skills. The BMT is designed to transform civilian recruits into disciplined and competent soldiers. It is a physically and mentally challenging program, but it is essential for preparing soldiers for the rigors of combat.

The Nigerian military also cooperates with a number of foreign militaries on training programs. This cooperation includes exchanges of training personnel, joint training exercises, and attendance at foreign military schools. International training helps to expose Nigerian soldiers to the latest military thinking and doctrine from around the world. It also helps to build relationships between the Nigerian military and other militaries.

The Nigerian military training system is one of the most comprehensive and rigorous military training systems in Africa. It produces well-disciplined, well-trained, and combat-ready soldiers. The Nigerian military training system is essential for maintaining the Nigerian military’s position as one of the strongest militaries in Africa.

ETHIOPIAN MILITARY

Ethiopia has the sixth largest military in Africa and a budget of over $1 billion. The Ethiopian military is a well-equipped force with a strong focus on air power. Ethiopia has been investing heavily in its military in recent years, modernizing its equipment and training its personnel. The Ethiopian military has also been playing a key role in the fight against terrorism in the region.

ANGOLAN MILITARY

Angola has the seventh largest strongest military in Africa and a budget of over $1 billion. The Angolan military is a well-equipped force with a focus on its army. Angola has been investing heavily in its military in recent years, modernizing its equipment and training its personnel.

The Angolan military arsenal is one of the largest and most sophisticated in Africa. It includes a wide range of weapons and equipment, from small arms and artillery to tanks and aircraft.

The Angolan army’s infantry weapons are mostly of Russian origin, including the AK-47 assault rifle, the RPK light machine gun, and the PKM machine gun. The army also has a number of Western-made weapons, such as the FN FAL assault rifle and the M60 machine gun.

The Angolan artillery arsenal includes a wide range of weapons, from 120mm mortars to 155mm howitzers. The army also has a number of rocket artillery systems, such as the BM-21 Grad and the BM-30 Smerch.

The Angolan army’s armored forces include a number of tanks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles. The army’s main battle tank is the T-72, which is of Soviet origin. The army also has a number of BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles.

The Angolan Air Force is one of the most powerful in Africa. It has a number of fighter jets, bombers, and transport aircraft. The Air Force’s main fighter jet is the Su-27, which is of Russian origin. The Air Force also has a number of Su-24 bombers and Il-76 transport aircraft.

In recent years, Angola has been investing heavily in its military. It has purchased new weapons and equipment, and it has upgraded its training facilities and personnel. As a result, the Angolan military is now one of the most powerful in Africa.

Here is a more detailed list of some of the major weapons and equipment in the Angolan military arsenal:

• Small arms: AK-47, RPK, PKM, FN FAL, M60
• Artillery: 120mm mortar, 155mm howitzer, BM-21 Grad, BM-30 Smerch
• Tanks: T-72
• Armored personnel carriers: BTR-80
• Infantry fighting vehicles: BMP-2
• Fighter jets: Su-27
• Bombers: Su-24
• Transport aircraft: Il-76

SUDANESE MILITARY

Sudan has been ranked as the eighth largest military in Africa and a budget of over $1 billion. The Sudanese military is a large and well-equipped force with a focus on ground forces. Sudan has been involved in a number of conflicts in recent years, including the civil war in Darfur and the conflict in South Sudan. If there is a country that has one of the highest African military spending, Sudan’s defense budget should be one of them.

Sudan’s military modernization program is a long-term initiative to improve the capabilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) as one of the top African militaries. The program was launched in 2012 and is expected to last for several decades.

The program is focused on a number of areas, including:

• Acquiring new and modern military equipment
• Upgrading existing military equipment
• Training military personnel
• Improving the logistics and sustainment capabilities of the SAF

The Sudanese government has allocated significant resources to the military modernization program. In recent years, Sudan has acquired a number of new weapons systems from Russia, China, and other countries to add to the general African military strength. These systems include fighter jets, tanks, artillery, and air defense systems.

Sudan has also been working to upgrade its existing military equipment. For example, the SAF has recently upgraded its T-55 tanks and BMP-2 armored vehicles.

In addition to acquiring and upgrading equipment, Sudan is also focused on training its military personnel. The SAF has been sending its personnel to train in Russia, China, and other countries. The SAF is also working to develop its own training programs.

The Sudanese government is also investing in improving the logistics and sustainment capabilities of the SAF. This includes improving the transportation and maintenance capabilities of the SAF.

The Sudanese military modernization program is still in its early stages, but it has already made significant progress. The SAF is now better equipped and trained than it was in the past. The program is expected to continue to improve the capabilities of the SAF in the years to come.

KENYAN MILITARY

Kenya has the ninth largest military in Africa and a budget of over $500 million. The Kenyan military is a well-equipped force with a focus on counter-terrorism operations. Kenya has been playing a key role in the fight against al-Shabab in Somalia to showcase African military capabilities when needed.

In recent years, Kenyan military cooperation with the United States has become increasingly important. Kenya is a key ally in the fight against al-Shabab in Somalia, and the United States has provided significant support to the Kenyan military in this effort. The United States has also provided training and equipment to the Kenyan military to help it counterterrorism and other security threats.

In addition to counterterrorism cooperation, the United States army and the Kenyan army also work together on peacekeeping operations. The Kenyan military, which boast of one of Africa’s strongest armies is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, and the United States provides training and equipment to Kenyan peacekeepers.

CAMEROONIAN MILITARY

Cameroon is ranked as the tenth largest military in Africa with a budget of over $500 million. The Cameroonian military has a well-equipped force that showcases its African military strength with a focus on counter-insurgency operations. Cameroon has been involved in a conflict with Boko Haram in recent years.

Cameroonian military operations against Boko Haram has raged on for years. They have been one of the countries hardest hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, which began in Nigeria in 2009 and has since spread to neighboring countries. The Cameroonian military has been involved in a number of operations against Boko Haram, with mixed results.

One of the most significant Cameroonian military operations against Boko Haram was the Battle of Amchidé in 2014. In this battle, Cameroonian forces managed to repel a major attack by Boko Haram on the town of Amchidé, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents. However, the Cameroonian military has also suffered significant losses in its fight against Boko Haram. In 2015, for example, Boko Haram militants killed over 70 Cameroonian soldiers in a single attack.

Despite the challenges, the Cameroonian military which is seen as one of the top African militaries has continued to fight Boko Haram. In recent years, the Cameroonian military has made some progress in pushing back the insurgents. However, Boko Haram remains a serious threat to Cameroon and the wider Lake Chad Basin region.

Here are some of the key Cameroonian military operations against Boko Haram:

• 2014: Cameroonian forces repel a major attack by Boko Haram on the town of Amchidé, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents.
• 2015: Cameroonian forces launch a major offensive against Boko Haram in the Far North region.
• 2016: Cameroonian forces join the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in a regional effort to combat Boko Haram.
• 2017: Cameroonian forces launch a number of successful operations against Boko Haram, driving the insurgents out of several towns and villages.
• 2018: Cameroonian forces continue to fight Boko Haram, but the insurgents remain a serious threat.
• 2019: Cameroonian forces launch a major offensive against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region.
• 2020: Cameroonian forces continue to fight Boko Haram, but the insurgents remain active in the Far North region.
• 2021: Cameroonian forces launch a new offensive against Boko Haram, with the support of the MNJTF.
• 2022: Cameroonian forces continue to fight Boko Haram, but the insurgents remain a threat to both Nigeria and Cameroon militaries.

CONCLUSION

The top African militaries mentioned above are the most powerful when it comes to military capabilities in the African continent. These countries have some of the strongest African armies and also are ranked as among the countries with highest budget when it comes to African military spending.