Central African Republic Army
10. Central African Republic: Years of civil war have severely weakened the military
The Central African Republic's long-standing political instability has led to a serious weakening of its military power. Civil war broke out in the country in 2012, with heavy fighting between government forces and the rebel group Muslim Rebel Alliance. After the signing of the peace agreement in 2015, the fighting has calmed down, but the country's military organization remains loose and chaotic.
The military forces of the Central African Republic include the Central African Forces (FACA), the Presidential Guard, and the police force. Among them, FACA is the regular army of Central Africa, with about 7,500 to 8,000 people. The weapons and equipment are mainly from the former Soviet Union countries and China, and most of them are outdated and old. It is mainly equipped with about 10 T-55 tanks, about 8 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, and about 8 BM-21 rocket artillery. The Air Force has only a handful of transport helicopters, and its air defense capability is lacking. The Navy has only a small fleet of patrol boats, which makes it difficult to effectively control the border areas.
The overall quality of the Central African armed forces is poor, with desertion and corruption. Insufficient training of soldiers and poor supply of equipment have greatly restricted their combat effectiveness. There have been sporadic clashes between rebels and government forces, armed robberies and kidnappings continue to occur in the country, and government control over much of the country has been limited. It is precisely because of the weakness and unprofessionalism of the Central African army that it has to rely on United Nations peacekeeping forces for a long time to defend peace and stability in the country.
Chadian army
9. Chad: The army has recently been strengthened, but it remains weak overall
Chad is a landlocked country in central Africa, with years of political turmoil and frequent border territorial disputes. In recent years, Chad has increased its investment in national defense forces, but its military strength is still relatively weak in terms of overall national strength.
The Chadian armed forces consist mainly of the Chadian National Army and the Presidential Guard. The Chadian National Army is the main regular army, numbering between 30,000 and 35,000 troops. Most of the weapons and equipment came from the former Soviet Union and France, and some of them were outdated. It is mainly equipped with about 100 T-55 tanks, about 60 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, about 18 BM-21 rocket artillery, and 2 MiG-29 fighters and 2 Mi-24 attack helicopters. Since 2015, Chad has been importing firearms, military vehicles, light aircraft, etc. from China for modernization. The weaker strength of the air force and armored forces is an aspect that needs to be strengthened.
The Chadian armed forces have suffered losses in conflicts with neighbouring countries, and many soldiers and equipment have fallen into the hands of the rebels. The lack of discipline in the troops and the frequent occurrence of coups have also seriously affected their combat effectiveness. The new Derby government hopes to improve the quality of the army by increasing military spending and strictly enforcing military discipline, but there is still a long way to go in various reforms. At the same time, Chad's geographical position surrounded by enemies puts it under tremendous pressure for national defense, which is also a major factor restricting the development of its military strength.
Guinea-Bissau Army
8. Guinea-Bissau: The Navy and Air Force are almost non-existent, and the Army is limited in equipment
Guinea-Bissau, located in West Africa, has the lowest military strength index among the Portuguese-speaking countries. Decades of dictatorship and political turmoil have severely weakened the military. The country lacks a navy and air force, and the army is extremely limited in equipment.
The armed forces of Guinea-Bissau have about 4,500 troops and 3,000 interior troops. The army was equipped with old equipment, mainly firearms, communications equipment, dozens of armored personnel carriers and several cannons. The Air Force has only 1 transport helicopter, which is almost non-existent. The Navy has only a small fleet of patrol boats, which makes it difficult to effectively patrol the sea. The military-industrial base of the country is also very weak.
The overall quality of the Guinean armed forces is poor, and frequent coups have a greater impact on the stability of the armed forces. After the death of dictator Patrick Vieira, Guinea-Bissau is in the midst of a complex political transition. Military spending has also been insufficient, making it difficult to support the development of the armed forces. Guinea-Bissau is currently relying mainly on military assistance from Portugal and Brazil for infrastructure and equipment.
Gambian Army
7. Gambia: The army is small in numbers and mostly outdated in equipment
The Gambia is a small landlocked country in Africa and one of the weakest militarily powerful countries in the world. In the more than 50 years since independence, the country's national defense has been extremely weak due to its small territory and poor economy.
The armed forces of the Gambia have about 800 troops, 100 navy and 30 air force. Among them, the navy and air force are extremely small, with only a few patrol boats and unarmed transport aircraft, and their role is extremely limited. The army also faced a huge shortage of equipment, and after the withdrawal of the British army in the 90s, there was almost no military aid, and the lost weapons were difficult to replace. At present, there are only about 2,000 firearms and light weapons, and less than 100 vehicles. The artillery consisted of only a few 85-mm cannons and mortars.
The average training time of Gambian soldiers is very short, and most of them have only basic shooting and physical training, and lack professional skills. The size of the garrison is too small to ensure border security. In addition, the army's poor service conditions and insufficient logistical support have also seriously affected the morale of the army. The country currently spends less than $5 million on its military, has almost no military industry, and makes it difficult to produce and maintain military equipment on its own.
Djiboutian army
6. Djibouti: With the exception of the French troops in Djibouti, the national troops are poorly equipped
Located in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is a small country and one of the least developed countries in the world. Its national defense strength has long relied on the French garrison, and its own national defense construction started very late, and its military strength is relatively weak.
The Djibouti National Army was established in 1977 and currently has a strength of about 13,000 troops. However, with the exception of the French troops stationed in Djibouti, Djibouti's own army is very short of weapons and equipment. There are about 1,500 AK rifles and hundreds of machine guns for light weapons, and only dozens of 82-mm mortars and 4 BM21 multiple rocket launchers for heavy weapons. The available equipment of the Navy and Air Force is almost nil. Military spending is also very low, only about $10 million, which is difficult to meet basic needs.
The French army stationed in Kyrgyzstan numbered about 1,500 men. It is well-armed and equipped with helicopters, combat vehicles, torpedo boats, etc. However, the French army is mainly responsible for protecting French citizens and key facilities in Djibouti, and rarely intervenes in Djibouti's own conflict. In addition to border patrols, the main task of the Djibouti army is to maintain stability and counter terrorism. Its weapons and equipment are outdated, making it difficult to defend the country in the event of a conflict with its neighbors.
Burundian Army
5. Burundi: Lack of funding leads to training and equipment constraints
Located in the central landlocked region of Africa, Burundi is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world. The protracted civil war and financial shortages have severely weakened Burundi's military strength.
The Burundian Defence Force has approximately 30,000 men, including the Army, the Mobilization Force and the Presidential Guard. Except for a small amount of equipment from China, most of them are weapons left over from the former Soviet Union, mainly dozens of T-55 tanks, about 60 BTR-60 armored personnel carriers, about 16 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, a few 122-mm cannons and BM-21 rocket launchers, and about 50 anti-aircraft guns and mortars. In addition, there are 2 MiG-21 fighters and 4 transport helicopters. The Navy has only 4 patrol speedboats. Much of the equipment has been damaged and scrapped.
Burundi's annual defence spending is generally less than $80 million, or about 1.5% of GDP. The long-term shortage of funds has seriously restricted the upgrading of military equipment and logistical support, and has also led to the low remuneration of soldiers and affected their morale. And frequent coup d'état turmoil also affects the stability of the troops.
Rwandan Army
4. Rwanda: Defense spending has increased in recent years, but it is still weak overall
Rwanda is a landlocked country in central Africa, and the genocide of the 90s of the 20th century severely destroyed the country's economic and military power. In recent years, Rwanda has increased its investment in national defense construction, but its overall military strength is still relatively weak.
The Rwandan Defence Force currently has about 32,000 to 35,000 troops, of which about two-thirds are the Army. The armament is mainly purchased from the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, including about 30 T-55 tanks, about 90 BTR-60 armored personnel carriers and MT-LB tanks, about 16 BM-21 rocket launchers, and about 60 antiaircraft guns and mortars. In addition, there are 8 Mi-17 transport helicopters and 1 MiG and 1 Soviet-type fighter. The Navy has only a few patrol speedboats.
With U.S. support, Rwanda has gradually acquired advanced equipment to reduce its dependence on Soviet weapons, such as light attack helicopters made in China and South Korea and Brazilian anti-tank missiles. However, the replenishment of various equipment is still limited. Discipline and morale of the Rwandan gendarmerie are also low on average. Defense spending is about 1.1 percent of GDP, or $250 million, but it is still difficult to achieve full modernization quickly.
Army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo: The civil war has caused a disorganized army and a shortage of equipment
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest country in Africa and one of the most volatile regions in the world. Over the years, the country's army has been disorganized, outdated and weakly combat-ready.
The Congolese armed forces include the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the Republican Guard and the police force, with a total strength of about 100,000. Among them, there are about 85,000 people in FARDC, mainly using former Soviet and Chinese equipment, including about 100 T-55 tanks, more than 200 armored personnel carriers, dozens of 122-mm cannons and about 30 BM-21 rocket launchers, as well as several Mi-series fighters and transport helicopters. The Navy has only a few patrol speedboats.
However, the Congolese army as a whole is old-equipped, undersupplied and maintained, and its operational deployment is rather chaotic. The density of the garrison is low, and it is difficult to effectively control the border areas. The military budget has been insufficient for a long time, and the soldiers' living needs have relied on plunder, which has seriously affected military discipline and combat effectiveness. Clashes between armed groups are also frequent.
Mauritanian Army
2. Mauritania: There are almost no navy, air force and armored forces, and the army is poorly equipped
Mauritania is a landlocked country in northwestern Africa, and since its independence, its national defense strength has been backward and its military strength is extremely weak.
The Mauritanian army includes the army, the National Guard and the National Police, with a total strength of about 15,000 troops. Among them, there are about 10,000 people in active duty in the army, and the weapons and equipment are mainly light weapons, such as about 12,000 automatic rifles, about 200 machine guns, and no tank armored vehicles. The Air Force and Navy are largely non-existent. The air defense force consists only of a few antiaircraft guns and a few sets of portable anti-aircraft missiles.
Mauritania has almost no defence industrial system of its own, and most of its weapons are imported. Due to the extreme poverty of the domestic economy, annual defense spending has been very low, only about $60 million, and it has been difficult to meet basic needs for a long time. As a result, the Maoist armed forces are facing great difficulties in training and equipping. The garrison relied mainly on patrolling the surrounding area to ensure border security.
Lesotho Army
1. Lesotho: Military spending is low, equipment is old, and the army is small
Lesotho is a small landlocked country in Africa and one of the least developed countries. For a long time, there has been a serious lack of investment in the building of its military strength, and its overall national defense strength is extremely weak.
The Lesotho Defence Forces have about 2,000 active personnel and about 14,000 in reserve. The armament is mainly light weapons, mainly including about 3,000 automatic rifles, about 1,000 communications equipment, and about 24 mortars. Other heavy weapons such as tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, etc., are almost non-existent. The Navy and Air Force are largely non-existent. Most of the training and operation of the armed forces rely on the assistance of Western private military companies.
Lesotho's defense spending has been low for a long time, with only about $16 million in 2020, or about 1.8% of GDP. The lack of sufficient funds to support the daily operation of the armed forces and the renewal of equipment has also seriously constrained the development of national defense forces. Its border guards ensure border security mainly through regular patrols.