In this article, we look at the 10 weakest militaries in Africa. You can skip our detailed analysis on defense spending patters in the continent and head over directly to the 5 Weakest Militaries in Africa.
Global military spending increased 6.8% from 2022 – the steepest rise since 2009 – to reach a record-high of $2.44 trillion in 2023, according to latest figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This is the ninth successive year of growth in defense expenditure, with spending increasing across all regions of the world.
The United States continued to remain the largest military spender in the world, having spent a whopping $916 billion on defense in 2023, representing 37% of the world’s total defense expenditure. China, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia retained their positions in the top five, while Ukraine climbed from 11th spot in 2022 to become the eighth largest spender on defense, having spent $64.8 billion in 2023. Combined, the top ten countries accounted for 74% of the world’s total defense expenditure during the year.
In Africa, the military spending totaled $51.6 billion in 2023, which was 22% higher than in 2022, and represented 2.1% of the global defense expenditure. Of this, $28.5 billion was spent in North Africa, with Algeria and Morocco together accounting for 82% of the military spending in the region. This spike was driven by Algiers’ defense bills soaring 76% compared to 2022 to reach $18.3 billion, made possible by an increase in demand for Algerian gas exports amid sanctions against Russia. On the other hand, $23.1 billion was incurred on defense by states in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 20% of the amount attributed to Nigeria. As is evident from these numbers, while defense spending continues to rise each year, the increase is not even. Neither across continents, nor within.
Arms Procurement in Africa
Russia is Africa’s largest arms trade partner, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the country’s exports to the continent increasing 23% between 2016 and 2020, compared to 2011 and 2015. This is seen by analysts as a strategic move by Moscow to facilitate trade and soft power in Africa, which would enable Russia to build a presence at NATO’s southern flank. That being said, sanctions against Moscow in recent years have created an opening for Chinese armament manufacturers as well, with the Asian giant exporting over $2 billion worth of military supplies to Sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2021. Arms sales of the United States to the subregion during this period were estimated to be $473 million, according to the Atlantic Council.
The situation is strikingly different in North Africa, where American defense companies play a much more active role, driven by the decades-long arms race between Algeria and Morocco, coupled with President Sisi's quest for Egypt to become a major regional power. Washington in April last year, approved the potential sale of HIMARS and related equipment to Rabat under a $524 million deal, with Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX), and RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) being among the major contractors of the deal. The Pentagon also approved selling Joint Stand Off Weapons to Morocco for a cost of $250 million, with RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) being the primary contractor of the project.
On the other hand, Cairo has also been looking to upgrade its defense systems with advanced American air radars. In January 2022, the US approved the sale of three L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) SPS-48 land-based radars for $355 million to Egypt, which would offer the African nation jamming capabilities and help it detect even extremely small targets. A year prior to this in February 2021, it was reported that Egypt also received the Rolling Airframe Missiles manufactured by RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) under a $197 million agreement.
Moreover, elsewhere in the African continent, the United States has actively begun donating military equipment to several countries in the region to aid them in combating terrorism and crime. In 2014, the United States gave away two Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft to Mauritania to help the country in its fight against maritime time and terrorist groups. Both the aircraft were manufactured by Cessna, owned by Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), and were valued at $21 million each at the time.
More recently in 2021, the American government donated a Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) C-130 aircraft to Niger to use in operations related to humanitarian assistance and mobility of UN peacekeeping missions. The C-130 is one of the top-selling tactical aircraft in the world, and has been continuously manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) since its first flight in 1954.
Last year, the United States announced an $80 million grant to donate four Bell 412EP helicopters built by Bell Helicopters, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), to the Zambian Air Force. Under the grant, the US was also to provide three years of service and training for the helicopter. The Zambian government thanked Washington for the donation, and stated that the helicopters would assist the country in enhancing regional security, and in supporting UN peacekeeping missions in the continent.
Several weighted metrics have been considered to rank the weakest militaries in Africa. These include capabilities of ground forces (40%) determined by manpower, tanks, and armored fighting vehicles; naval and aerial strength (30%), and economic potential and defense spending (30%). Weighted scores for each metric were aggregated to get an overall weighted score. The 10 weakest militaries in Africa are listed in this article in descending order of their weighted scores.
Military-related data has been sourced from our recent article, 15 Weakest Militaries in the World, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was consulted for figures related to GDP in 2023.
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Let’s now head over to the list of the weakest militaries in Africa.
10. Senegal
GDP (2023): $31.14 billion
Defense Spending (2023): $345 million
Manpower: 17,000
Tanks: 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1,104
Military Aircraft: 27
Naval Assets: 4
Overall Score: 12
Senegal has one of the weakest militaries in Africa, with only 17,000 active military personnel. The country’s armed forces have no battle tanks, and only four naval assets. Its fleet of 27 military aircraft comprises four special mission aircraft and 13 combat helicopters, among others, with Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT)’s Bell 206 being one of the main choppers operated by the country. The only area of strength for Senegal’s military is its large fleet of armored fighting vehicles. That being said, the size of the country’s economy was measured at over $31 billion in 2023, with a GDP growth of 5.3% during the year. If this positive economic trend continues, Senegal can certainly look to increase defense spending to upgrade its military.
9. Burkina Faso
GDP (2023): $20.78 billion
Defense Spending (2023): $434 million
Manpower: 12,000
Tanks: 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1,112
Military Aircraft: 21
Naval Assets: 0
Overall Score: 10.9
Burkina Faso’s military is in the news currently for the alleged massacre of over 200 civilians in two villages in February this year, as part of an ongoing campaign against civilians suspected of abetting Islamist militant groups. The country has been under military rule since 2022, and has one of the weakest armed forces in the world with no battle tanks and naval assets, and a manpower of a mere 12,000 troops. Despite that, the military holds firm control over national politics.
8. Mauritania
GDP (2023): $10.36 billion
Defense Spending (2023): $194 million
Manpower: 31,500
Tanks: 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1,000
Military Aircraft: 23
Naval Assets: 5
Overall Score: 10.6
Mauritania is next on our list of the weakest militaries in Africa, with manpower being its only recognizable area of strength. Much of the country’s military equipment is old and outdated, and of French and Soviet origin. The country has no battle tanks, and possesses only five naval assets. Mauritania has 23 military aircraft, of which four are Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft. The Air Force also has two Cessna 208 special mission aircraft it received from the United States in 2014.
7. Gabon
GDP (2023): $19.32 billion
Defense Spending (2023): $280 million
Manpower: 6,500
Tanks: 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 848
Military Aircraft: 23
Naval Assets: 10
Overall Score: 10.2
A military coup in Gabon last year ended the 56-year rule of the Bongo family over the former French colony, in a fresh blow to Paris’ interests in the region. The country relies heavily on French military assistance, which has since then been put to a halt following the collapse of Bongo’s government. This series of events is likely to further weaken Gabon’s military, which is already one of the weakest militaries in Africa, with an active manpower of only 6,500 troops. The country has no tanks, and a mere ten naval assets. Its 23 military aircraft include 6 Mirage F1 combat jets, 1 Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) C-130H, and 2 C-295 transport aircraft, among other aircraft.
6. Madagascar
GDP (2023): $15.76 billion
Defense Spending (2023): $110 million
Manpower: 13,000
Tanks: 386
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 430
Military Aircraft: 4
Naval Assets: 8
Overall Score: 9.4
Madagascar is in sixth spot in our list of the weakest militaries in Africa. The country spent only $110 million on defense expenditure in 2023, and has a manpower of 13,000 active troops. One area of comparative strength for the military on paper appears to be a sizable fleet of battle tanks, but in reality, most of the equipment is long outdated. Working conditions for soldiers in Madagascar’s military also remain poor, with personnel reporting demotivation due to lower wages.
