Tuesday April 15, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia ranks 142nd out of 145 countries in the 2025 Global Firepower Index, placing it among the world's least-equipped militaries with a Power Index score of 4.2037, ahead of only Bhutan, Benin, and the Central African Republic.
The annual ranking evaluates nations across more than 60 metrics, including military manpower, equipment diversity, defence budget, logistical capabilities, natural resources, and geography, among other factors. A score of 0.0000 is considered "perfect," with lower scores reflecting stronger overall capabilities.
International partners, including the United States, Turkey, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, have provided substantial support through training programs and funding. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is frequently undermined by internal political dynamics and a lack of cohesive national strategy. Despite the international support and recent gains against Al-Shabaab, Somalia's armed forces remain under-resourced and fragmented. The country faces ongoing challenges such as limited funding, a fragile federal structure, and logistical gaps that undermine sustained military operations.
Security analysts point to Somalia's heavy reliance on foreign training missions and peacekeeping support, including from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), as a key indicator of its strategic vulnerability.
In the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia ranks 52nd globally and fifth in Africa, with a Power Index score of 0.9305. The country fields over 160,000 active personnel and spends over $2 billion annually on defence. Despite political instability, it maintains well-equipped land and air forces.
Kenya, ranked 83rd with a score of 1.8135, operates a professional military of approximately 50,000 troops and 25,000 paramilitary personnel, backed by a $1.3 billion defence budget. Nairobi's focus remains on counterterrorism, particularly against threats from Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants.
Djibouti was not ranked in the 2025 Index but plays a strategic role due to its location at the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The country hosts military bases from the U.S., China, and France and maintains compact but trained forces across land, air, and sea.
The top African militaries in 2025 include Egypt (19th, 0.3427), Algeria (26th, 0.3589), Nigeria (31st, 0.5771), South Africa (40th, 0.6889), and Ethiopia (52nd). These nations benefit from larger economies, diversified arsenals, and well-established command structures.
Globally, the most powerful militaries are the United States (1st, 0.0744), Russia (2nd, 0.0788), China (3rd, 0.0788), India (4th, 0.1184), and South Korea (5th, 0.1656).
Analysts warn that Somalia's low ranking reflects the urgent need for structural reform, centralized command, and sustained investment in the security sector. Somalia's military remains fragmented, with parallel chains of command between federal forces and regional units, especially in Puntland and Jubaland, complicating coordinated national operations.
Efforts to build a unified national army have been repeatedly stalled by political rivalries between the central government and federal member states. The African Union has emphasized the importance of establishing a clear command structure as it implements its latest mission, AUSSOM.
A 2022 paper from the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) noted that Somalia risks remaining dependent on international partners without an inclusive, well-funded, and centrally coordinated force.
Security analysts say Somalia's low ranking underscores the nation's struggle to close the defence gap with its neighbours. While international funding and training programs have aided Somalia's army in recent years, enduring internal conflict and uneven governance hinder the creation of a robust and centrally managed force.