Here are Africa’s strongest armed forces

FILE PHOTO: People protest against Kenya's proposed finance bill 2024/2025, in Nairobi
FILE PHOTO: A member of the Kenya Defence Forces holds a weapon from a military vehicle as Kenya Defence Forces are deployed to curb a demonstration over police killings of people protesting against Kenya's proposed finance bill 2024/2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File Photo
Source: REUTERS

Egypt has been named the strongest military power in Africa, according to the 2025 Global Firepower Index, which ranks the military strength of 145 countries worldwide.

The report, released annually by the defence analytics website Global Firepower, uses over 60 factors to measure military power, including troop size, equipment quality, logistics, budget, and geography.

Algeria was ranked second on the continent, followed by Nigeria in third place and South Africa in fourth.

These countries have consistently remained among the most dominant military forces in Africa.

Ethiopia, Angola and Morocco also feature among the top ten African militaries, alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Libya.

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Kenya, Chad, Mozambique and Tunisia fall within the top 15, while countries such as Central African Republic, Somalia and Sierra Leone rank among the lowest in Africa and globally.

Below is the full list of African countries as ranked by the Global Firepower Index out of a total of 145 countries globally.

1. Egypt (19)

2. Algeria (26)

3. Nigeria (31)

4. South Africa (40)

5. Ethiopia (52)

6. Angola (56)

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7. Morocco (59)

8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)

9. Sudan (73)

10. Libya (76)

11. Kenya (83)

12. Chad (84)

13. Mozambique (89)

14. Tunisia (90)

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15. Tanzania (92)

16. Cameroon (93)

17. Ivory Coast (102)

18. Mali (104)

19. Zambia (109)

20. Ghana (110)

21. Zimbabwe (111)

22. South Sudan (113)

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23. Uganda (114)

24. Namibia (116)

25. Niger (119)

26. Eritrea (120)

27. Republic of the Congo (121)

28. Botswana (122)

29. Mauritania (123)

30. Senegal (125)

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31. Burkina Faso (129)

32. Madagascar (130)

33. Gabon (133)

34. Liberia (138)

35. Sierra Leone (140)

36. Somalia (142)

37. Central African Republic (143)

This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.