Top 10 African countries with the weakest military power in 2024

Several African countries have successfully developed strong military capabilities over the decades. Countries like Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa, for example, maintain well-trained troops, modern equipment, and significant defence budgets relative to their peers.

However, others face inherent challenges that constrain their military capabilities. For instance, economic constraints restrict defence budgets, resulting in outdated equipment and insufficient training. Political instability and corruption also heighten these problems, diverting resources from efforts to modernize the military.

A recent index by Global Firepower’s shows the military strength of some countries globally. The index ranks 145 nations’ militaries, weighing various factors like the volume of sophistication of its equipment, finances, geography, and resources.

In an earlier report on military ranking in Africa, we noted that while the GFP can give us a good idea of the African countries with the strongest or weakest military power, it’s key to know that a country’s military scene can be shaped by alliances, diplomatic ties, and tech advancements.

According to the index, Somalia is ranked the weakest military force in Africa and 38th globally. Benin and Liberia follow closely in second and third positions, securing the 36th and 37th positions globally.