Somalia Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 104th
MPR SCORE: 273
MPR Index: 0.812 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8707 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.467 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Somalia ranks 104th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Its military, the Somali Armed Forces (SAF), is primarily focused on internal security, counterterrorism, and the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab and other insurgent groups. Decades of civil war, state collapse, and warlord fragmentation left Somalia without a functional national army for much of the post-1990 period. However, in recent years, reconstruction efforts supported by Turkey, the United States, and the African Union have begun to rebuild the SAF into a cohesive fighting force.

Somalia’s defense doctrine is centered on restoring national territorial control, securing key urban centers and supply routes, and progressively reducing dependency on foreign peacekeeping forces, such as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Though still under-equipped and institutionally weak, Somalia’s military has expanded its training pipeline, regained control over select regions, and increased its tempo of offensive operations against insurgent networks.

Strengths

1. Counterterrorism Experience and Urban Warfare Engagement

Somalia’s military is actively engaged in live combat operations against Al-Shabaab, giving it direct experience in urban clearance, IED mitigation, and small-unit tactical maneuvering, especially in southern and central regions.

2. International Support and Force-Building Assistance

The SAF receives robust training and equipment support from Turkey, the U.S., and EU missions, as well as joint command experience with ATMIS forces. This has enhanced Somalia’s professionalization, officer corps development, and command coordination.

3. Strategic Coastal Geography and Maritime Importance

Somalia controls a long stretch of coastline along the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, placing it near vital shipping lanes and geopolitical chokepoints. This gives its military strategic relevance beyond internal security, especially in anti-piracy and regional maritime policing.

Why Somalia Is Still Ranked 104th

1. Fragmented Command and Political Instability

The SAF remains affected by clan-based loyalties, regional power struggles, and incomplete command centralization, reducing unit cohesion and enabling parallel forces such as state militias and non-integrated units to operate independently.

2. Limited Equipment and Logistics Infrastructure

Somalia lacks a functional air force, heavy artillery, and mechanized units. Much of its equipment is donated, non-standardized, or light infantry-based, making sustained operations logistically difficult and dependent on foreign support.

3. Ongoing Insurgency and Reliance on Foreign Troops

While the SAF has improved, it still depends heavily on ATMIS forces and foreign advisors for key operations, particularly in contested areas like Lower Shabelle, Hiiraan, and Galmudug. Full security transition remains incomplete.

Conclusion

Somalia’s military is in the midst of a long-term reconstruction process, gradually transforming from a fragmented security network into a functioning national defense force. While far from conventional parity with regional powers, the SAF is becoming increasingly active in counterinsurgency, urban stabilization, and territorial recovery. Its current ranking reflects both its limited conventional capability and its ongoing evolution, recognizing that Somalia’s defense forces, while under-resourced, are engaged in real-time combat with growing institutional momentum.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 21,000
Reserve Personnel: 5,000
Paramilitary Forces: 10,000 (including special police units and clan-based militias)
Army Personnel: 17,000
Navy Personnel: 1,500
Air Force Personnel: 2,500

Ground Forces

• Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 10 (older T-54/T-55 variants)

• Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 100+

• Artillery Pieces (Towed & Self-Propelled): 50+

• Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): Limited or unconfirmed

Air Force

• Combat Aircraft: 0

• Attack Helicopters: 0

• Transport Aircraft: 3+

• Training Aircraft: Light aircraft in limited use

Aircraft Breakdown:

• MiG-17 and MiG-21 (legacy; mostly non-operational)

• Cessna Caravan (donated for reconnaissance)

• Small aircraft used for cargo and medevac

Naval Forces

• Warships: 3+ patrol vessels

• Submarines: 0

• Frigates/Corvettes: 0

• Patrol Boats: 3+ (mostly donated or refurbished)

Naval Vessel Breakdown:

• Small inshore patrol craft (used primarily for anti-piracy missions)

• Offshore vessels donated by international partners

Missile Capabilities

Somalia does not possess strategic or tactical missile capabilities. It relies on small arms, light artillery, and limited mortars in its security operations. International support has provided communication, surveillance, and limited armored mobility but not missile technology.

Strategic Partnerships

Somalia receives military training and assistance from Turkey, the United States, and the United Nations. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has played a major role in offensive and stabilization operations. Turkey also operates a major training base in Mogadishu. Other partners include the UK, EU, and Qatar.

Military History & Combat Experience

Somalia’s military history is defined by state collapse, insurgency, and a prolonged process of post-conflict military rebuilding. Despite the absence of conventional warfare in recent decades, Somali forces are among the most combat-active in Africa due to ongoing internal conflict.

• Ogaden War (1977–1978):
  Somalia invaded Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, aiming to unite Somali-inhabited territories. Initially successful, Somalia was eventually repelled by a Soviet- and Cuban-backed Ethiopian counteroffensive. The war marked Somalia’s last large-scale conventional military campaign and exposed structural flaws in its command system.

• State Collapse and Civil War (1991–2006):
  After the fall of Siad Barre’s regime, Somalia entered a prolonged period of warlordism, clan-based militias, and anarchy. The national army disintegrated, and military power fragmented into regional factions, particularly in Mogadishu, Puntland, and Somaliland.

• Rise of Al-Shabaab and Islamist Insurgency (2006–present):
  Following the U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion of 2006, Somalia became the focal point of a protracted insurgency led by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate. The SAF, supported by African Union troops (AMISOM/ATMIS), began a multi-decade campaign to reclaim territory, conduct urban security operations, and neutralize insurgent leadership.

• Multinational Training and Modernization (2010s–present):
  Somalia has since launched a number of defense reform initiatives with help from Turkey, the U.S., the UK, and the EU. Key programs include the Turkish-run military academy in Mogadishu, Joint Somali-U.S. counterterrorism raids, and development of elite Danab units, trained for special operations.

Somalia’s combat experience is defined by low-intensity warfare, urban insurgency, and asymmetric threat mitigation. Its military remains under development, but it is among the most active in the world in terms of operational deployments and internal engagement tempo.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

• Population: ~18.2 million (2024 est.)

• Population Available for Military Service: ~5.8 million

• Geographic Area: 637,657 km²

• Land Boundaries: 2,366 km

• Bordering Countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya

• Coastline: 3,333 km

• Climate: Principally desert; hot and dry

• Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plateau; highlands in north

• Natural Resources: Uranium, iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, oil (unexploited), natural gas

• Proven Oil Reserves: ~1 billion barrels (unconfirmed)

• Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~5 trillion cubic feet (potential, unverified)

Economic Indicators

• Defense Budget (2025): ~$200 million USD (estimated; foreign-aid dependent)

• Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~3.5%

• GDP (PPP): ~$15 billion USD

• GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$800

• External Debt: ~$5 billion USD

• Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Conflict-driven, reliant on international partners

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

• Military Service Obligation: Voluntary

• Primary Defense Focus: Counterinsurgency, urban warfare, border control

• Military Industry Base: Minimal; irregular arms production and repair

• Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Negligible

• Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)

• Major Military Districts / Commands: Sector-based under Somali National Army (SNA); AMISOM coordination

• Missile Inventory Highlights: Light artillery, RPGs, technicals

• Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Irregular militia and clan-based

• Reservist Force Size: ~90,000 (including militias)

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

• Space or Satellite Programs: None

• Military Satellite Inventory: None

• Intelligence Infrastructure: National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)

• Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: U.S., Turkey, AMISOM partners

• Airports (Total): ~61

• Major Military Airports: Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

• Merchant Marine Fleet: Minimal

• Major Ports: Mogadishu, Kismayo, Berbera (Somaliland)

• Naval Infrastructure: Minimal patrol craft; piracy suppression operations

• Naval Replenishment Capability: Limited

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

• Railway Network: None

• Roadways: ~22,000 km (mostly unpaved)

Energy and Fuel Logistics

• Oil Production: None (exploration ongoing)

• Energy Imports: Nearly 100% dependent

• Strategic Petroleum Reserves: None

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

• Domestic Defense Production: Minimal; limited repair workshops

• Military Installations (Domestic): Mogadishu, Beledweyne, Baidoa

• Military Installations (Overseas): None

• Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Turkish, U.S., AU forces

• Defense Alliances: AU, AMISOM, bilateral with Turkey and U.S.

• Strategic Airlift Capability: None; relies entirely on partners

• Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low

Research and Industry Support

• Defense R&D Investment: None

• Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Port logistics, foreign-supplied training centers

Political and Administrative Structure

• Capital: Mogadishu

• Founding Date: July 1, 1960 (unification of British and Italian Somali territories)

• System of Government: Federal parliamentary republic under reconstruction