Egypt has a very strong military supported by the entire Gulf region. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the like fund the Egyptian Army so that they can defend them in case of any eventuality. Apparently, Gulf Countries have the money and equipment but lack trained personnel plus their population is also small. On the other hand, The Military here is darm darm super super rich and very well trained. They also get annual aid, equipment and training from the US as part of the Peace deal that they made with Israel after the war in '79. It is compulsory for all men in this country to do a one year military training. Though there are some exceptions like if one of your parent is not Egyptian, if you are the only son or if your father is deceased. These people do not take training and military funding lightly. The Military has a lot of wealth and it has invested in Real Estate and much more.

Even Israel with all its power and might is afraid of Egypt. Isreal had stolen Egyptian Land, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Egyptian army, under the leadership of Anwar Sadat, humiliated the Isrealis and forced them out. And they have never tried anything like that again. The Egyptian army, under Gamel Abd El Nasser, defeated the British and French to reclaim the Suez Canal. The Egyptian people worship the military and they value their strength.

Unfortunately, I cannot compare because I have no idea what is happening in the other countries. But I can report on what I have seen and heard in Egypt.

Chepkel Egypt is the strongest military power in the Arab world. period. But its skirmishes with Israel ended up with a bloodied nose including one instance when all their fighter planes were wiped out before taking off. Israel only withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula under a peace arrangement and not under a military assault. You should be careful reading about Egyptian war history as seen through Egyptian eyes.


But all said, asymmetrical war tactics which avoid direct military confrontation have empowered some informal military players. The Somali warlord Aideed embarrassed the U.S in Somali but it doesn't mean that his militia was more powerful than the U.S Army, specifically the Marines.

MC ...Angola should rank very highly in Africa

Not necessarily. As I pointed out above in the case of Aideed vs the US Marines, asymmetrical warfare distorts perception on military might and Shabaabs tactics bear all the hallmarks.

Absolutely, infact Angola is a superpower in regional matters, if it wasn't for them, Kagame and Museveni would have divided Congo between them. Angola is very well-endowed economically and extremely organized and well armed/ trained military.