It is virtually impossible to over emphasize the vitality of human resources in African militaries. It takes a well-trained, stocked, and equipped military to prevent aggression, respond to crises, maintain regional peace, and further national advancement. This is why in Africa an army’s available manpower is a key indicator of the military’s strength.
A sufficient number of soldiers in the army acts as a deterrent to both internal and external violence. While an army typically consists of several units, it is the number listed under active that is most important.
Reserves can be called upon in dire situations, but given the fact that active duty soldiers are deployed swiftly, they experience more combat and as such are more battle-ready than the reserves, despite both units undergoing similar training programs.
In addition to discouraging possible enemies from waging war, a strong and visible military presence gives civilians confidence and reassures them of their safety and security.
An active unit is required to combat transnational security concerns including terrorism, organized crime, and illegal trafficking.
Having well-trained and sufficiently manned military personnel improves a region’s ability to deal with these complex and developing security concerns.
With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the most battle-ready soldiers according to Global Firepower. This list is based on the number of active personnel per region.
| 1. | Egypt | 440,000 |
| 2. | Algeria | 325,000 |
| 3. | Nigeria | 230,000 |
| 4. | Morocco | 195,800 |
| 5. | South Sudan | 185,000 |
| 6. | Democratic Republic of Congo | 166,580 |
| 7. | Ethiopia | 162,000 |
| 8. | Eritrea | 120,000 |
| 9. | Angola | 107,000 |
| 10. | Sudan | 92,000 |
