SIPRI Fact Sheet April 2014 - Trends in world military expenditure, 2013

"Algeria continued the breakneck pace of growth in its military spending, with an 8.8 per cent increase in 2013, to reach $10.4 billion—the first time an African country has spent more than $10 billion on its military. The reasons for Algeria’s ongoing militarization include its desire for regional power status, the powerful role of the military, the threat of terrorism—including from armed Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali—and the ready availability of oil funds.

Another country where oil wealth is supporting increased military spending is Angola, which became the second largest military spender in Africa—and the largest in sub-Saharan Africa—in 2013, with an increase of 36 per cent in 2013 (and 175 per cent since 2004), to reach $6.1 billion. This is the first time that Angola’s spending has surpassed that of South Africa, which spent $4.1 billion in 2013, an increase of 17 per cent since 2004.

Angola and Algeria both now have military burdens of 4.8 per cent of GDP, the highest in Africa for countries where recent data is available."

More - http://www.scribd.com/do...ilitary-expenditure-2013

In fact Anwar Sadat is one of a few African leaders that I can describe as a hero! And no, I did not watch the video because I was posting in between meetings. But I will.

amusing thread. several people purporting to be authoritative about various countries' military capability (oh damn! that country has the latest high tech bullrts that can trace you with your dna hidden in the mountains...nay, it's country z they got planes!). given the confidential nature of most, nay all, military capabilities we can only get a glimpse of these when these countries go to war. so all you wazua keyboard military authorities...you remind me of those blind people and the elephant.

Not really.

A lot of information on military hardware is available on publications such Jane's Defence Weekly and various other websites.

Perhaps what you mean is that hardware and numbers do not necessarily translate to results on the battlefield.

Much like a company's balance sheet showing net assets does not say much about its ability to earn returns for its shareholders. But it does show financial might or lack of it.