As of February 2024, the strongest armies in East Africa are those of Ethiopia and DRC. These countries have well-equipped and trained military forces, and have been involved in various conflicts and peacekeeping operations in the region.
As ranked by Global Fire Power, below are the top 10 most powerful Militaries in East Africa in 2024.
***Each country was Ranked by Their Current military capabilities and available firepower
GFP Power Index rating (0.0000 being perfect)
The ranking is based on over 50 individual factors with categories ranging from military might and financials to logistical capability and geography.
However, the ranking does not simply rely on the total number of weapons available to any one country but rather focuses on weapon diversity within the number totals to provide a better balance of firepower available.
In 2024, Ethiopia emerged as the country with the strongest military in East Africa, achieving an impressive index rating of 1.0798. Following closely, the Democratic Republic of the Congo secured the second position, showcasing its military strength in the region. Meanwhile, Kenya, Zambia, and Uganda solidified their positions in the top 5, showcasing their robust military capabilities in East Africa.
Top 10 Most Powerful Militaries In East Africa (2024)
1. Ethiopia (Power Index Rating 1.0798)
Ethiopia’s millitary is the most powerful military in East Africa and the 6th most powerful military in Africa. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 1.0798.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 162,000
Active reserve personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 365
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 130
Self-Propelled Guns: 65
Towed-Artillery: 480
Rocket projectors: 180
The country also has a total aircraft strength of 92, and a Defense Budget of $520,000,000 as of march 2024.
2. DRC (Power Index rating: 1.4171)
Democratic Republic of the Congo has the second most powerful army in East Africa and the eleventh most powerful military in Africa, ranking 76 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 100,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 212
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 201
Self-Propelled Guns: 16
Towed-Artillery: 125
Rocket Projectors: 55
DRC’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 46, a total of 8 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $299,220,000.
3. Kenya (Power Index rating: 1.5252)
Kenya is ranked 81 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. The country has the third most powerful military in East Africa and holds a PwrIndx* score of 1.5252.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 24,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 109
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 959
Self-Propelled Guns: 30
Towed-Artillery: 50
Rocket Projectors: 5
Kenya’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 151, a total of 87 helicopters, 2 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $1,186,080,000.
4. Zambia (Power Index rating: 2.1966)
Zambia’s millitary is the fourth most powerful military in East Africa and the 14th most powerful military in Africa. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 2.1966.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 16,500
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 75
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 226
Self-Propelled Guns: 0
Towed-Artillery: 42
Rocket Projectors: 50
Zambia’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 97, a total of 27 helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $251,160,000.
5. Uganda (Power Index rating: 2.2436)
Uganda’s army is the fifth most powerful military in East Africa and the 15th most powerful military in Africa. Uganda is ranked 92 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review and holds a PwrIndx* score of 2.2436.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 47,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 10,000
Firepower
Tanks: 237
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1056
Self-Propelled Guns: 6
Towed-Artillery: 35
Rocket Projectors: 26
Uganda’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 49, a total of 5 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $934,250,000.
6. Zimbabwe (Power Index rating: 2.2498)
For 2022, Zimbabwe is ranked 93 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review making it the 6th most powerful army in East Africa and the 16th most powerful in Africa.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 30,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 50
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 318
Self-Propelled Guns: 0
Towed-Artillery: 60
Rocket Projectors: 23
Zimbabwe’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 90, a total of 6 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $117,390,000.
7. South Sudan (Power Index rating: 2.5072)
South Sudan army has the seventh most powerful military in East Africa and the nineteenth most powerful military in Africa. The country holds a PwrIndx score of 2.5072.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 175,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 55
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 150
Self-Propelled Guns: 12
Towed-Artillery: 0
Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems: 7
South Sudan’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 18, a total of 6 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $276,000,000.
8. Tanzania (Power Index rating: 2.8437)
For 2022, Tanzania’s military is ranked 113 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review making it the 8th most powerful in East Africa. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 2.8437.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 26,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 40,000
Firepower
Tanks: 42
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 89
Self-Propelled Guns: 12
Tanzania’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 36, a total of 10 naval patrol vessels, and a Defense Budget of $748,920,000.
9. Mozambique (Power Index rating: 3.1746)
Mozambique’s millitary is the 9th most powerful military in East Africa and the 25th most powerful in Africa. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 3.1746.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 11,000
Active reserve personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 90
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 317
Self-Propelled Guns: 0
Towed-Artillery: 270
Rocket projectors: 12
The country also has a total aircraft strength of 18, 2 attack helicopters and a Defense Budget of $140,200,000.
10. Madagascar (Power Index rating: 4.4351)
Madagascar’s millitary holds a PwrIndx* score of 4.4351 making it the 10th most powerful military in East Africa.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 13,000
Active reserve personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 12
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 109
Self-Propelled Guns: 0
Towed-Artillery: 17
Rocket projectors: 0
The country also has a total aircraft strength of 5, 9 naval patrol vessels and a Defense Budget of $109,760,000.
Top 10 Strongest Military in East Africa 2024
| Rank | Country | Power Index Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ethiopia | 1.0798 |
| 2 | DRC | 1.4171 |
| 3 | Kenya | 1.5252 |
| 4 | Zambia | 2.1966 |
| 5 | Uganda | 2.2436 |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 2.2498 |
| 7 | South Sudan | 2.5072 |
| 8 | Tanzania | 2.8437 |
| 9 | Mozambique | 3.1746 |
| 10 | Madagascar | 4.4351 |
Strongest Military in the East African Community
1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Power Index rating: 1.4171)
Democratic Republic of the Congo has the most powerful army in the East Africa community and the eleventh most powerful military in Africa, ranking 76 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 100,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 212
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 201
Self-Propelled Guns: 16
Towed-Artillery: 125
Rocket Projectors: 55
DRC’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 46, a total of 8 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $299,220,000.
2. Kenya (Power Index rating: 1.5252)
Kenya has the second most powerful military in the East african community.
Kenya is ranked 81 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. The country also has the third most powerful military in East Africa and holds a PwrIndx* score of 1.5252.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 24,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 109
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 959
Self-Propelled Guns: 30
Towed-Artillery: 50
Rocket Projectors: 5
Kenya’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 151, a total of 87 helicopters, 2 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $1,186,080,000.
3. Uganda (Power Index rating: 2.2436)
Uganda’s army is the third most powerful military in the East Africa Community and the 5th most powerful military in East Africa. Uganda is ranked 92 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review and holds a PwrIndx* score of 2.2436.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 47,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 10,000
Firepower
Tanks: 237
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1056
Self-Propelled Guns: 6
Towed-Artillery: 35
Rocket Projectors: 26
Uganda military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 49, a total of 5 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $934,250,000.
4. South Sudan (Power Index rating: 2.5072)
Top 20 Most strongest military in East Africa
South Sudan army has the 4th most powerful military in the East African Community and the seventh most powerful military in East Africa. The country holds a PwrIndx score of 2.5072.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 175,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 0
Firepower
Tanks: 55
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 150
Self-Propelled Guns: 12
Towed-Artillery: 0
Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems: 7
South Sudan’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 18, a total of 6 attack helicopters, and a Defense Budget of $276,000,000.
5. Tanzania (Power Index rating: 2.8437)
For 2022, Tanzania’s military is ranked 113 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review making it the 5th most powerful in the East African Community. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 2.8437.
Manpower
Active Personnel: 26,000
Active Reserve Personnel: 40,000
Firepower
Tanks: 42
Armored Fighting Vehicles: 89
Self-Propelled Guns: 12
Tanzania’s military also possess a Total Aircraft strength of 36, a total of 10 naval patrol vessels, and a Defense Budget of $748,920,000.
Top 5 Strongest Military in the East African Community (2024)
| Rank | Country | Power Index Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DR Congo | 1.4171 |
| 2 | Kenya | 1.5252 |
| 3 | Uganda | 2.2436 |
| 4 | South Sudan | 2.5072 |
| 5 | Tanzania | 2.8437 |
Methodology
The finalized Global Firepower ranking above utilizes over 50 individual factors to determine a given nation’s PowerIndex (‘PwrIndx’) score with categories ranging from military might and financials to logistical capability and geography.
Revised in November 2024
Kindly do your research properly, no way you can rate congo as most powerful country yet they were overwhelmed by the militias untill they got aid from Kenya and currently it is Kenya Defense Forces that are now training them so their defense can be advanced. You are under rating Kenya who has made remarkable mission including Somali mission which overwhelmed so many Eastern African countries after experiencing several casualties which made them withdrew even before they could last for one year
No country can stand against Kenya here in Eastern Africa and Africa as a whole if not may be Egypt