For countries, the power which they have is often marked with the strength which their military possesses. The higher the strength, the higher the power which this country possesses. And also the cherished their peacekeeping efforts and staving off conflicts.
The Global Fire Power organisation, a reputable global firm when it comes to understanding and measuring the power of militaries in the world, listed the most powerful countries in the world. In calculating the strength of these militaries, they use parameters which include manpower, army power, naval strength, financial resources, logistical resources, natural resources and geography.
These paramaters determine a given nation’s Power Index score. Through this way, nations are given an equal field of measurement regardless their size.
The following are the ten best militaries in Africa.
10. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Power Index: 1.3651
Global Position: 75/136
The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo or the FARDC, take pride in their land forces, which greatly make up for deficient areas such as air and naval units. Their budget stands at $162 million. Some of their stats include 200 battle tanks, 8 attack helicopters, 210 armored fighting vehicles. The FARDC has experienced some significant resurgence after the Second Congo War which was extremely devastating and which resulted in a massive loss of lives and property.
9. Libya
Power Index: 1.2558
Global Position: 74/136
With a giant figure of $3,000,000,000 as their budget, the Libyan army comprises of a small number of active troops, but boast of a vast array of equipment. Even though the country is infamous for its instability and chaos, some of their stats include 18 fighter aircraft, 17 attack aircraft, 8 attack helicopters, 340 combat tanks, 699 armored fighting vehicles, and 100 rocket projectors.
8. Sudan
Power Index: 1.1592
Global Position: 70/136
Spending $2,470,000,000 on defense, some of the equipment that define their army includes 46 fighter aircraft, 81 attack aircraft, 41 attack helicopters, 360 combat tanks, 415 armored fighting vehicles, and 12 naval patrol craft. They have well-organized land, air and naval units. The Chinese and the Russians support the Popular Defense Force, which is the military wing of the National Islamic Front, with military equipment.
7. Morocco
Power Index: 0.9125
Global Position: 55/136
The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces are hugely dependent on foreign resources. They have been involved in a conflict with POLISARO, a liberation movement in the Western Sahara. They are involved in various peacekeeping missions including ones in Somalia. With a defence budget of $3,400,000,000, some of the equipment at their disposal include 56 fighter aircraft, 56 attack aircraft, 1,276 combat tanks, 2,348 armored fighting vehicles, 72 rocket projectors, 6 naval frigates, and 22 naval patrol crafts.
6. Ethiopia
Power Index: 0.8771
Global Position: 51/136
Being a landlocked country, Ethiopia has devoted its time and resources to perfect its land and air units, bearing in mind the Global Fire Power does not penalize landlocked countries for not having naval unites.
Aided with excellent military equipment, Ethiopia harnesses the potential of its large population and thus it has one of the largest forces on the continent. In Ethiopia, people can be called to arms when needed, although it is not mandatory.
Being at 6th is a new thing for Ethiopia, which used to top the lists, hovering around positions 2 and 3. This can be attributed to their enormous investments in infrastructural developments. With a budget of $340,000,000 the Ethiopian Defence Forces military equipment include 24 fighter aircraft, 24 attack aircraft, 8 attack helicopters, 800 combat tanks, 800 armored fighting vehicles, 183 rocket projectors, 85 self-propelled artillery, and 700 towed artillery.
5. Angola
Power Index: 0.8266
Global Position: 48/136
The Angolan Armed Forces’ involvement in the training of the armies of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau was controversial as the leaders of the 2012 Guinea-Bissau coup d’etat cited Angola’s military mission as a primary reason for an uprising.
The rise of the Angolan Armed Forces has been helped by the country benefiting from natural resources such as oil and diamonds which have enriched the country.
With their budget standing at $4,150,000,000 some of their military equipment include 59 fighter aircraft, 56 attack aircraft, 15 attack helicopters, 244 combat tanks, 115 rocket projectors, 538 armored fighting vehicles, 332 towed artillery, 38 naval patrol craft, etc.
4. Nigeria
Power Index: 0.7509
Global Position: 43/136
Nigeria has remained at 4th position for the second time. Like Ethiopia, Nigeria benefits immensely from its huge population, in greater terms than those of Ethiopia. Some of the equipment they utilize is as follows: 9 fighter aircraft, 21 attack aircraft, 11 attack helicopters, 148 combat tanks, 30 rocket projectors, 1,420 armored fighting vehicles, 339 towed artillery, 4 naval frigates, 93 naval patrol crafts, etc. Their defence budget is $ 2,330,000,000. Despite this strength, Nigeria has faced difficulties in fighting the Boko Haram extremist group in Northern Nigeria.
3. South Africa
Power Index: 0.6445
Global Position: 33/136
South Africa’s military is very much technologically advanced; it can even be compared with other developed European nations. their military front line personnel are less than 100,000 but this does not stop them from engaging in peacekeeping missions and fostering international co-operation, helped with their advanced technology. Some of their equipment include 17 fighter aircraft, 17 attack aircraft, 12 attack helicopters, 195 combat tanks, 50 rocket projectors, 2,265 fighting armored vehicles, 43 self-propelled artillery, 97 towed artillery, 4 naval frigates, 3 submarines, 31 naval patrol crafts, etc. The defence budget is a mammoth $4,610,000,000.
2. Algeria
Power Index: 0.4296
Global Position: 23/136
Algeria’s modern army is largely powered and buoyed by the nation’s vast oil resources. Its active frontline personnel numbers more than 127,000 troops and it has nearly 2,000 armored fighting vehicles at its disposal
Its equipment goes beyond impressive, with a fine modern touch too, as the equipment in its possession includes 97 fighter aircraft, 107 attack aircraft, 46 attack helicopters, 2,405 combat tanks, 176 rocket projectors, 6,754 fighting armored vehicles, 220 self-propelled artillery, 270 towed artillery, 8 naval frigates, 8 submarines, 43 naval patrol crafts, etc.
Their staggering budget explains this all. The budget is a gigantic $10,570,000,000.
1.Egypt
Power Index: 0.2751
Global Position: 12/136
Egypt has been the top military powerhouse in Africa for a long time, and will probably be the top for more years ahead.
The large size of the Egyptian army surpasses that of any African country, as it has 500,000 active frontline personnel.
Egypt possess two aircraft carriers, the only in Africa to do so.
The following are some of its equipment: 309 fighter aircraft, 409 fighter aircraft, 10 attack helicopters, 4,946 combat tanks, 1,216 rocket projectors, 15,695 armored fighting vehicles, 1,139 self-propelled artillery, 2,189 towed artillery, 2 aircraft carriers, 9 naval frigates, 6 submarines, 53 naval patrol craft, etc, with a budget of $4,400,000,000 anchoring all this.
