FARDC ranked among Africa’s Top 10 Strongest Armies in 2026
The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have been ranked among the ten strongest militaries in Africa in 2026, according to the latest Global Firepower Index (GFP) 2026.
The annual ranking assesses military strength across 38 African countries using multiple criteria, including troop numbers, military equipment, defense budgets, logistical capacity, and strategic geographic positioning.
At the continental level, Egypt leads the 2026 ranking, followed by Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ethiopia. Morocco, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Tunisia complete the list of Africa’s top ten military powers.
Analysts note that the ranking reflects long-term investment in military capabilities as well as security challenges faced by different countries, including terrorism, internal conflicts, and regional instability.
DRC’s Position in the Ranking
In the 2026 assessment, the Democratic Republic of Congo is ranked 8th in Africa and 64th globally. FARDC has maintained this position for several years, despite ongoing military setbacks over the past four years against AFC/M23 rebels, who have pushed government forces out of several areas in eastern DRC.
Despite DRC’s inclusion in the ranking, Rwanda does not appear in the Global Firepower 2026 list, nor do other regional countries such as Burundi.
Global Military Powers in 2026
Globally, the world’s strongest militaries in 2026 continue to be led by the United States, followed by Russia, China, India, and South Korea—maintaining the same top five positions as in 2025.
France moved up to sixth place this year, followed by Japan in seventh. The United Kingdom, Türkiye, and Italy complete the global top ten.
Germany ranks 12th globally, Israel 15th, Iran 16th, Ukraine 20th, while North Korea is ranked 31st.
