Top 20 Strongest Armies In Africa 2024
Top 20 Strongest Armies In Africa 2024.
Welcome to Gistbriefly, Please if this is your first time of visiting our website, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to always receive our updated posts into your mailbox directly.
Now talking about the Strongest Armies In Africa, Africa is known for its natural richness in mineral resources. Africa is also a home for various cultures, languages, traditions, and resources.
Despite being a land blessed with wealth and many mineral resources, Many African countries have been struggling with poverty, corruption, and civil wars for many years.
However, there is a good story about Africa as Africa has some Strong Army which can’t be compared to some of the western world Armies. For Example, Egyptian Army is number 15 in the world’s strongest Army and Egypt is a country in Africa.
In this article, we will explain the top 20 strongest armies in Africa.
Please note that this rating is based on many factors such as the number of men, military budget, Covert Operations, Equipments and number of Operations.
Top 20 Strongest Armies In Africa 2024
Egypt
Egypt has the strongest Army in Africa presently. Egypt is said to have about 1,395,000 active personnels and 400,000 reserve Personnels. The country has been investing heavily in their Army to become the strongest Army in the Africa with a military budget of over $11.5 billion.
Apart from Egypt Army being the Strongest Army in Africa, They also have the strongest military in Africa. You can read our previous post on the Strongest Military in Africa 2024.
Egypt has also been an ally of the United States, which has been providing the country with various military assistance.
The Egyptian Army country has fought many threats to its security which includes the insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula and militant attacks from Libya.
Algeria
Algeria is another country that has a very strong Army in Africa. Algeria is the second most powerful country in Africa, Algeria has an estimated personnels of 130,000 active and about 500,000 on reserve. The Algeria government always budget of over $10 billion.
One thing you should note is that most of the military budget in each country, The Army always have the Lions share. The Algeria Army is one of the most most technologically advanced army in the world the.
The Algerian Army has played many role in the fight against terrorism, ensuring that the North and West Africa regions remain stable. They have assisted many African countries in their own nations conflicts.
Algerian Army has been providing support to other African countries. Their Army is actively engaged in training missions with other African armies.
South Africa
Number 3 on our list is the South African Army. The South African Army is one of the strongest and fearless Army in the world.
South Africa Army has about 81,300 active Soldiers in service, and about 15,000 reserve. South African Army budget of over $4.7 billion. With this, They ranks third among the top 20 strongest armies in Africa.
Not only the Army, Their military as a whole is among the most modernized and technologically advanced military in Africa.
South Africa’s Army also been involved in many peacekeeping missions, Some of the missions includes Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan. They also provide military assistance to to other African countries.
Nigeria
Nigeria which is also known as Giant of Africa has one of the strongest Army in Africa.Nigeria made our list of the top 20 strongest armies in Africa, Nigerian has an active serving personnels of over 120,000, with no reserve, The Nigerian military has a budget of over $2.2 billion. The Nigerian Army is involved in peacekeeping missions in Africa which includes the fight against Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa.
The Nigerian Army has been fighting terrorism such as Boko Haram, Bandits and even Fulani herdsmen.
Ethiopia
The Ethiopia’s Army is number 5 on our list of the top 20 Strongest Armies In Africa.
The Ethiopia’s Army has an estimated number of 150,000 active personnels. Their military budget is said to be over $550 million. Their Army is one of the best Army you can talk of in Africa.
Ethiopia’s Army has been going to various peacekeeping missions in Africa and even outside Africa. Their Army has participated in the peace keeping Missions in South Sudan, Somalia, and Darfur. Their Army has many new modernized weapons and Armoured vehicles.
Angola
Number 6 on our list of the top 20 strongest Army in Africa is Angola. Their Army has an estimated number of 150,000 serving personnels. Their military budget is said to be over $3 billion.
The Angola’s Atmy has participated in many peacekeeping missions in some of the African countries which includes the Central African Republic (CAR) and the DRC.
The Angola’s Army has bought many new modernized weapons in recent years. They are also said to have bought new fighting Armoured vehicles.
Morocco
This article would have not been complete if we didn’t mention the Morocco’s Army. Apart from their Army being one of the best Army in Africa, Their Military also made the list of the strongest military in Africa.
Morocco’s Army is number 7 on our list of the top 20 strongest armies in Africa. They have an estimated number of 175,000 serving personnels. Their military budget is said to be over $4.2 billion.
The Morocco’s Army has been in different peacekeeping missions in Africa, which includes Western Sahara and the DRC.
The country’s Army has also been working on modernizing their Army to meet up with other international standard Army. Because of that efforts, The Military has acquired many new advanced weapons.
Sudan
The Sudanese Army have made history previously. The Country has been at war within. Though it was settled because of the involvement of the Army and the Military as a whole.
Sudanese Army is number 8 on our list of the strongest armies in Africa, They have an estimated number of 105,000 serving personnels, and their military budget of over $4 billion.
Just like some of the African countries we have mentioned earlier, Sudan has been involved in different peacekeeping missions in countries like Darfur and South Sudan.
The same way many other African countries is modernizing their Army, The country has also been modernizing their Army, acquiring advanced weapons, and also increasing their budget for Army investments.
Libya
Libyan Army is one of the strongest Armies In Africa. Their military also made the list of the strongest military in Africa. Libyan Army is number 9 on the top 20 strongest armies in Africa, Their Army has an estimated number of about 76,000 serving personnels. Their military budget is said to be over $3.1 billion. The Libyan Army is refered to as The Libyan National Army (LNA).
The Libyan National Army has been engaging in many conflicts in the country and this includes civil conflict in Libya. Their Army has also acquired some new fighting equipments in recent years. This alone can show you that the are is always ready to go.
Congo
Congo which is also refered to as Democratic Republic of Congo is a country in Africa that has a very strong Army. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Army is number 10 on our list of the top 20 strongest armies in Africa. Their Army has an estimated number of 144,000 Soldiers. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military budget is said to be over $1 billion.
The Army of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has also been involved in various peacekeeping missions in Africa, Example, South Sudan and Congo-Brazzaville.
Also, just the way other countries military has been in investing in their Army, that’s the same way the DRC has been investing in modernizing their military and increasing their budget for the Army investments.
Kenya
Kenyan Army is number 11 on our list of the strongest Army in Africa presently. Kenyan Army has an estimated number of 24,000 serving personnels. Kenya’s military budget is said to be over $1.3 billion.
Kenya Army has been involved in many peacekeeping missions in Africa, The missions they have participated in includes South Sudan and Somalia.
Also, talking about their equipments, they have been also been investing in their Army buying new fighting equipments and Big big tanks.
Tunisia
Tunisian Army made our list also at number 12 of the top 20 strongest armies in Africa, The Tunisia’s Army has an active personnels of about 36,800, Tunisia’s military budget is over $790 million.
Apart from being one of the strongest Army in Africa, Tunisia has also been involved in most of the peacekeeping missions in Africa, They participated in missions in Libya and Mali.
They have also acquired more newly introduced weapons and fighting equipments for their Army.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is another country that has a very strong Army in the world not even in Africa alone.
Zimbabwe Army is number 13 on our list of the strongest armies in Africa, The country’s Army is expected to have about 30,000 serving personnels. Their military budget is not that much but still they always archive a lot. Their military budget is over $400 million.
Zimbabwe has also been involved in various peacekeeping missions in Africa which includes the DRC and the Ivory Coast.
The Zimbabwe’s Army has always played a very important roles in protecting their country from any internal or external conflicts
Uganda
Number 14 on our list of the strongest Army in Africa is the Uganda’s Army
They have over 45,000 active personnels. I know some people will also be asking about reserve troops, but the truth is that most African Armies don’t have reserve personnels. Uganda’s military budget of over $300 million. With that, they have also acquired some newly introduced weapons in the world to their Army.
Uganda Army has also participated in many peacekeeping missions in Africa, They went to countries like Somalia and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Ghana
I know that many people has been waiting to see Ghana Army make our list. Yes, Ghanaian’s Army is one of the strongest Army in Africa.
Ghana is one of the most beautiful and calm nation in Africa. The Ghanaian’s Army has not fought any major war, yet they always equip their Army with the latest weapons and fighting equipments.
Ghana Army is number 15 on list of the strongest armies in Africa, Their Active Personnels is estimated to be about an 25,000 with no reserve troops, Their military budget of over $250 million according to research.
Ghana has also been involved in different peacekeeping missions in Africa. They have attended peace keeping Missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast.
Mozambique
Mozambique is number 16 of the top 20 strongest armies in Africa. They have an estimated serving personnels of about 29,800 with no reserve Personnels, Their military budget is worth over $280 million.
Just like other African countries we have mentioned earlier, Mozambique Army has been involved in involved in peacekeeping missions in Africa, which includes the DRC and the Comoros. Their weapons and fighting equipments are up to date as they are always modernizing their Army
Cameroon
Cameroon’s Army has made our list of the strongest Army in Africa. Cameroon which is a close country to Nigeria Chad and Niger has different newly modernized equipments.
Cameroon Army is number 17 on our list of the strongest armies in Africa, with an estimated number of 20,000 active personnels, with no reserve troops, Their military budget is over $570 million.
Apart from being a very strong military, Cameroon has been involved in most of the peacekeeping missions in Africa, including in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad. Their Army has been equiped with newly modernized weapons and armor.
Chad
Chadian Army is the number 18 on our list of the strongest Army in Africa 2023. This list would have been incomplete if Chad was not mentioned. Chad has been battling with Boko Haram in the Northern part of Nigeria as Nigeria share borders with Chad.
Chadian Army has an estimated number of 30,000 active personnels, with no reserve Soldiers, Their military budget is about $310 million.
Tanzania
Tanzanian Army is one of the strongest Army in Africa. Their Army has been involved in many peacekeeping missions in Africa and outside Africa.
Tanzanian Army is number 19 on our list of the top 20 strongest armies in Africa. Their Active serving personnels are estimated to be about 37,000, Some reports claims the the Army also have about 90,000 reserve personnels. Their military budget of over $240 million.
The Tanzania Army has also been involved in many peacekeeping missions in Africa. They participated in peacekeeping missions in countries like the DRC and Somalia. They also have many new modernized weapons and Armoured vehicles for combating terrorism.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso Army is the last on our list of the top 20 strongest Army in Africa. It is estimated that they have over 22,000 active personnels with no reserve Personnels Their military budget is one of the lowest budget among the top 20 military we have listed. Their military budget is said to be about $140 million.
There are many things you can notice in the list we mentioned above. Most of the country on the list has been combating some kind of terrorism or internal insurgency.
So the more you fight those kind of terrorism or internal insurgency, the more the Army gain more experience. So, from the list we mentioned above, The top 20 strongest armies in Africa have shown many improvements in their military capabilities, and they have been participating in most of the peacekeeping activities around Africa.
Moreover, these countries mentioned have a shared one objective which is maintaining stability and ensuring peace in the African continent. It is encouraging to see many African countries trying to modernize their military and acquiring advanced weapons for their Army.