Comparative army enlisted ranks of Africa
Rank comparison chart of enlisted rank for armies/ land forces of African states.
Enlisted
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algerian Land Forces[1]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
مساعد أول Mosa'id awwal | مساعد Mosa'id | رقيب أول Raqib awwal | رقيب Raqib | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف Earif | جندي Jundiun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Djoundi
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Angolan Army[2]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sargento-mor | Sargento-chefe | Sargento-ajudante | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Sub-sargento | Primeiro-cabo | Segundo-cabo | Soldado | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Benin Army[3]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1ère classe | Soldat de 2ème classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Botswana Ground Force[4]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burkina Faso Ground Forces[5][6]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef/ Maréchal des logis-chef | Sergent/ Maréchal des logis | Caporal-chef/ Brigadier-chef | Caporal/ Brigadier | Soldat de première classe | Soldat de deuxeme classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burundi Army[7]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Première sergent major | Première sergent | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1ère classe | Soldat de 2ème classe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ajida shefu | Ajida majoro | Ajida | Sereja majoro mu murwi wa mbere | Sereja mu murwi wa mbere | Sereja | Kaporari shefu | Kaporari | Umusoda wo mu murwi wa mbere | Umusoda wo mu murwi wa kabiri | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameroon Ground Forces
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat Première | Soldat
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cape Verdean National Guard[8]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sargento-mor | Sargento-chefe | Sargento-principal | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Sargento | Furriel | Instruendo curso de sargento | Cabo-principal | Cabo de Secção | Cabo-adjunto | Primeiro-cabo | Segundo-cabo | Instruendo curso de cabo | Soldado
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Central African Ground Forces
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-major | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat première | Soldat
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chadian Ground Forces
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergent major | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal | Soldat première | Soldat
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comorian Army
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1ère classe | Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Land Forces of the DR Congo
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant de première classe | Adjudant | Premier sergent major | Sergent major | Premier sergent | Sergent | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat de seconde classe | Recrue
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Congolese Ground Forces[9]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat 1ère classe | Soldat 2e classe
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Djiboutian Army
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat Première | Soldat
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Egyptian Army
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
مساعد أول Mosa'id awwal | مساعد Mosa'id | رقيب أول Raqib awwal | رقيب Raqib | عريف 'arif | جندي Jundi
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army of Equatorial Guinea
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brigada | Sargento primero | Sarjento | Cabo primero | Cabo | Soldado
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eritrean Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Master Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private first class | Private
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethiopian Ground Forces[10]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ሻለቃ ባሻ Shalek’a basha | ሻለቃ መጋቢ ባሻ Shalek’a megabī basha | ሻምበል ባሻ Shamibeli basha | መጋቢ ሀምሳ ዓለቃ Megabī hāmisa ‘alek’a | ሀምሳ ዓለቃ Hāmisa ‘alek’a | አስር ዓለቃ Āsiri ‘alek’a | ምክትል አስር ዓለቃ Mikitili āsiri ‘alek’a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Command sergeant major | Staff sergeant major | First sergeant | Master sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gabonese Army
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat première | Soldat
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gambian National Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ghana Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guinea Ground Forces
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1ère classe | Soldat de 2ème classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army of Guinea-Bissau
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Primeiro-Soldado | Soldado
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ivory Coast Ground Forces[11]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat de seconde classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kenya Army[12]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Senior sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lesotho Army[13]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liberian Ground Forces[14]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Command sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private first class | Private | Private
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Libyan Ground Forces[15]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Master Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private 1st Class | Private
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Madagascar Ground Forces[16]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-major | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malawi Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malian Army[17]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mauritanian National Army[18]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
مساعد أول Mosa'id awwal | مساعد Mosa'id | رقيب أول Raqib awwal | رقيب Raqib | عريف 'arif | جندي Jundiun
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mauritius | No army
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Moroccan Army[19]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-major | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat de deuxième classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mozambican Army
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Intendente | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Terceiro-sargento | Cabo | Primeiro soldado
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Namibian Army[20]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Niger Army[21]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1re classe | Soldat de 2e classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nigerian Army[22]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army warrant officer | Master warrant officer | Warrant officer | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rwandan Land Forces[23]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer I | Warrant officer II | Sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army of São Tomé and Príncipe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sargento-mor | Sargento-chefe | Sargento-ajudante | Primeiro-sargento | Segundo-sargento | Furriel | Segundo-furriel | Cabo de Secção | Cabo-adjunto | Primeiro-cabo | Segundo-cabo | Soldado
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senegalese Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de première classe | Soldat
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seychelles Infantry Unit[24]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sierra Leone Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Somali National Army[25]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Warrant Officer Musharax Sarkaal | Warrant Officer Class 1 Sadex Xarígle | Warrant Officer Class 2 Laba Xarígle | Warrant Officer Class 3 Xarígle | Sergeant Sadex Alífle | Corporal Laba Alífle | Lance Corporal Alífle | Private (or equivalent) Dable
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Somaliland National Army
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief warrant officer Musharax sarkaal | Warrant officer class 1 Sadex xarígle | Warrant officer class 2 Laba xarígle | Warrant officer class 3 Xarígle | Sergeant Sadex alífle | Corporal Laba alífle | Lance corporal Alífle | Private (or equivalent) Dable
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Army[26]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sudanese Army[27]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
مساعد Mosa'id | رقيب أول Raqib awwal | رقيب Raqib | عريف 'arif | وكيل عريف Wakil 'arif | جندي Jundiun
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eswatini Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tanzanian Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 Afisa Mteule Daraja la Kwanza | Warrant officer class 2 Afisa Mteule Daraja la Pili | Staff sergeant Sajinitaji | Sergeant Sajenti | Corporal Koplo | Lance corporal Koplo Usu | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Togolese Army[28]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1ère classe | Soldat de 2e classe
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tunisian Army[29][30]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
وكيل أعلى Wakil 'aelaa | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل Wakil | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف Earif | رقيب أول Raqib 'awal | رقيب Raqib | جندي أول Jundiun awwal | جندي متطوع Jundiun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Soldat de 1re classe | Soldat
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ugandan Land Forces[31]
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zambian Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zimbabwe National Army
| No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regimental sergeant major | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private (or equivalent)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted |
See also
References
- ^ "Ranks". mdn.dz. Ministry of National Defence (Algeria). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "Postos do Exército". faa.ao (in Portuguese). Angolan Army. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006" (PDF). ilo.org (in French). National Assembly (Benin). 26 June 2006. pp. 19–20, 35–36. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Ranks". Government of Botswana. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ "LOI N° 037-2016/AN PORTANT CONDITIONS D'AVANCEMENT DES PERSONNELS D'ACTIVE DES FORCES ARMEES NATIONALES" (PDF) (in French). 2015. pp. 17–21. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
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- ^ "Patente". fa.gov.cv (in Portuguese). Cape Verdean Armed Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Grades appellations distinctions". defense.gouv.cg (in French). Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Ethiopia introduces its first Field Marshal rank amid changes to insignia". ethiopiancitizen.com. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS". defense.gouv.ci (in French). Ministère de la Défense. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Ranks in the Army". Lesotho Defence Force. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Defense Act of 2008" (PDF). 3 September 2008. p. 8. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ Tartter, Jean R. (1989). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Libya: a country study. Area Handbook (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 270–271. LCCN 88600480. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "LOI N° 96-029 portant Statut Général des Militaires" (PDF). defense.gov.mg (in French). Ministry of Defence (Madagascar). 15 November 1996. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali" (in French). 23 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
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- ^ Ehrenreich, Frederich (1985). "National Security". In Nelson, Harold D. (ed.). Morocco: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American University. pp. 350–351. LCCN 85600265. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
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- ^ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "RDF Insignia". mod.gov.rw. Government of the Republic of Rwanda. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Ehrenreich, Frederick (1982). "National Security". In Nelson, Harold N. (ed.). Somalia: a country study (PDF). Area Handbook (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 257. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Uniform: Rank insignia". army.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "الرتب العسكرية" [Military ranks]. mod.gov.sd/ (in Arabic). Republic of Sudan Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
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