African armies have undergone significant changes since independence. What were mainly small constabulary forces, relegated to maintenance of internal order, have in many instances become larger, more modern organizations in response to growing African perceptions of external threats to their national security. This process has been largely uneven, subject to a number of internal and external forces that have influenced, if not determined, the shape of African military institutions. Previous analyses of the African military have focuses almost exclusively on domestic politics, examining the role of soldiers as political actors. Little or no attention has been paid to the actual ability and desire of African armies to perform their defense functions and to fulfill the requirements of national security, however defined. This book deals with the evolution of African armed forces within the contest of their broader societies and assesses their current capabilities and effectiveness as military institutions. Emphasis is place on specific political-military issues, as opposed to describing the order of battle of individual countries or subregions. The intent is to provide the reader with an idea of where African armies have come from, where they are today, and where they are headed tomorrow. This is no easy task because of the sensitive and subjective nature of the evaluation of military capabilities, and the authors offer their assessments as best estimates based upon available information.

Introduction: African Armies-an analytical approach /Bruce E. Arlinghaus ; Part 1. Trends in the evolution of African armies. From "Armies of Africans" to "African Armies": the evolution of military forces in Africa / Claude E. Welch, Jr. -- Peacekeeping and warmaking: future military challenges in Africa / John M. Ostheimer -- From liberation to modernization: transforming revolutionary paramilitary forces into standing professional armies / Annette Seegers -- Dynamics of military rule in black Africa / Walter L. Barrows ; Part 2. Current African military capabilities. Sub-Saharan Africa's changing military capabilities / William G. Thom -- African ground forces / Charles P. Snyder -- African air forces / Harry E. Colestock III -- African sea forces / Larry D. Harrison ; Conclusion: African Armies-problems and prospects / Pauline H. Baker.