Comparative navy officer ranks of Africa

Rank comparison chart of officers for navies of African states.

Officers

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Algerian National Navy[1]
  • v
  • t
  • e
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal
فريق
Fariq
لواء
Liwa
عميد
Amid
عقيد
Aqid
مقدم
Muqaddam
رائد
Ra'id
نقيب
Naqib
ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal
ملازم
Mulazim
Général d'armée Général de corps d'armée Général de division Général Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
 Angolan Navy[2]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Almirante-da-Armada Almirante Vice-almirante Contra-almirante Capitão-de-mar-e-guerra Capitão-de-fragata Capitão-de-corveta Tenente-de-navio Tenente-de-fragata Tenente-de-corveta
 Benin Navy[3]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1ère classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2ème classe
Botswana Botswana No navy


Burkina Faso Burkina Faso No navy


Burundi Burundi No navy


 Cameroon Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
 Cape Verdean Coast Guard[4]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Capitão–de–mar Capitão–de–navio Capitão-de–patrulha Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Tenente Guarda-marinha
Central African Republic Central African Republic No navy


Chad Chad No navy


Comoros Comoros No navy


 Navy of the DR Congo
  • v
  • t
  • e
Grand amiral Amiral Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Congolese Navy[5]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
 Djiboutian Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Général de brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Commandant Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
 Egyptian Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal
فريق
Fariq
لواء
Liwa
عميد
Amid
عقيد
Aqid
مقدم
Muqaddam
رائد
Ra'id
نقيب
Naqib
ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal
ملازم
Mulazim
 Navy of Equatorial Guinea
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vice almirante Contra almirante Capitán de navío Capitán de fragata Capitán de corbeta Teniente de navío Alférez de navío Alférez de fragata


 Eritrean Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant


 Ethiopian Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
አድሚራል
Ādimīrali
ቫይስ አድሚራል
Vayisi ādimīrali
ሬር አድሚራል
Rēri ādimīrali
ኮሞዶር
Komodori
ካፒቴን
Kapītēni
ኮማንደር
Komanideri
ሌፍተናንት ኮማንደር
Lēfitenaniti komanideri
ሌፍተናንት
Lēfitenaniti
ሌፍተናንት ጁኒየር ግሬድ
Lēfitenaniti junīyeri girēdi
ሰብ ሌፍተናንት
Sebi lēfitenaniti
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Sub-lieutenant


 Gabonese Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


 Gambian Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman


 Ghana Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant


Guinean Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral de la Flotte Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


Navy of Guinea-Bissau
  • v
  • t
  • e
Capitão de mar e guerra Capitão de fragata Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Segundo-tenente Guarda-marinha
Subtenente


Navy of Ivory Coast[6]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau major Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe Aspirant


 Kenya Navy[7]
  • v
  • t
  • e
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant


Lesotho Lesotho No navy


Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Liberian National Coast Guard[8]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign


 Libyan Navy[9]
  • v
  • t
  • e
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal
فريق
Fariq
لواء
Liwa
عميد
Amid
عقيد
Aqid
مقدم
Muqaddam
رائد
Ra'id
نقيب
Naqib
ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal
ملازم
Mulazim


 Madagascar Navy[10]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


Malawi Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant


Mali Mali No navy


 Mauritanian Navy[11]
  • v
  • t
  • e
فريق
Fariq
لواء
Liwa
عميد بحري
Amid bahriun
مقدم بحري
Muqaddam bahriun
رائد بحري
Ra'id bahriun
نقيب بحري
Naqib bahriun
ملازم أول بحري
Mulazim awwal bahriun
ملازم بحري
Mulazim bahriun


Mauritius Mauritius No navy


Royal Moroccan Navy[12]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Amiral Vice-amiral d'escadre Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau-major Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


Mozambique Naval Command
  • v
  • t
  • e
Almirante Vice-almirante Contra-almirante Capitão de mar e guerra Capitão de fragata Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Segundo-tenente Guarda-marinha


 Namibian Navy[13]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral junior grade Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Ensign Midshipman


Niger Niger No navy


 Nigerian Navy[14]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman


Rwanda Rwanda No navy


Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Coast Guard of São Tomé and Príncipe
  • v
  • t
  • e
Capitão de mar e guerra Capitão de fragata Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Segundo-tenente Guarda-marinha
Subtenente
Aspirante


 Senegalese Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


Seychelles Coast Guard[15]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer cadet


 Sierra Leone Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman


Somali Navy[16]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vice admiral
Admiraal guud
Rear admiral
Admiraal gaas
Commodore admiral
Admiraal guuto
Captain
Gashaanle sare
Commander
Gashaanle dhexe
Lieutenant commander
Gashaanle
Lieutenant
Dhamme
Sub lieutenant
Laba xídígle
Ensign
Xídígle


Somaliland Coast Guard
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vice admiral
Admiraal kuxigeenka
Rear admiral
Admiraal gaas
Commodore admiral
Admiraal guuto
Captain
Gashaanle sare
Commander
Gashaanle dhexe
Lieutenant commander
Gashaanle
Lieutenant
Dhamme
Sub-lieutenant
Laba xídígle
Ensign
Xídígle


 South African Navy[17]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(junior grade)
Captain Commander Lieutenant
commander
Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign Midshipman


South Sudan South Sudan No navy


 Sudanese Navy[18]
  • v
  • t
  • e
فريق أول‎‎
Fariq 'awal
فريق
Fariq
لواء
Liwa
عميد
Amid
عقيد
Aqid
مقدم
Muqaddam
رائد
Ra'id
نقيب
Naqib
ملازم أول
Mulazim awwal
ملازم
Mulazim


Eswatini Swaziland No navy


 Tanzania Naval Command
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vice admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Ensign


Togolese Navy[19]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


 Tunisian National Navy[20]
  • v
  • t
  • e
فريق أول بالبحرية
Fariq 'awal bialbahria
فريق بالبحرية
Fariq bialbahria
أمير لواء بالبحرية
'amir liwa' bialbahria
عميد بالبحرية
Amid bialbahria
عقيد بالبحرية
Aqid bialbahria
مقدم بالبحرية
Muqaddam bialbahria
رائد بالبحرية
Ra'id bialbahria
نقيب بالبحرية
Naqib bialbahria
ملازم أول بالبحرية
Mulazim 'awal bialbahria
ملازم بالبحرية
Mulazim bialbahria
Amiral Vice-amiral Contre-amiral Capitaine de vaisseau major Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe


Uganda Uganda No navy


Zambia Zambia No navy


Zimbabwe Zimbabwe No navy


Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

Warrant Officers

Equivalent
NATO rank
WO-5 WO-4 WO-3 WO-2 WO-1
 South African Navy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Master chief warrant officer Senior chief warrant officer Chief warrant officer Master warrant officer Senior warrant officer

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ranks". mdn.dz. Ministry of National Defence (Algeria). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Postos da Marinha". faa.ao (in Portuguese). Angolan Navy. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Anexo A". Boletim Oficial (in Portuguese). 1 (4). Government of Cape Verde: 133–136. 18 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Grades appellations distinctions". defense.gouv.cg (in French). Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. ^ "GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS". defense.gouv.ci (in French). Ministère de la Défense. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Defense Act of 2008" (PDF). 3 September 2008. p. 8. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "رتب الضباط" [Officer ranks]. armee.mr/ (in Arabic). Armed Forces of Mauritania. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Les grades des officers de la marine". emam.defense.tn (in French). Ministry of Defence (Tunisia). Retrieved 10 June 2021.
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Military ranks and insignia by country
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