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
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	No navy
Burkina Faso	No navy
Burundi	No navy
Cameroon Navy [4] [5] [6] 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 [7] v t e
							Contra-almirante		Comodoro		Capitão–de–mar		Capitão–de–navio		Capitão-de–patrulha		Capitão-tenente		Primeiro-tenente		Tenente		Guarda-marinha
Central African Republic	No navy
Chad	No navy
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
Congolese Navy [8] 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 [9] v t e
									Général de brigade		Colonel-major	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
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
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
			Almirante		Vice-almirante		Contra-almirante		Comodoro		Capitão de mar e guerra		Capitão de fragata		Capitão-tenente		Primeiro-tenente		Segundo-tenente			Guarda-marinha/ Subtenente
Navy of Ivory Coast [10] 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
Kenya Navy [11] v t e
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Lesotho	No navy
Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Liberian National Coast Guard [12] v t e
											Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign
Libyan Navy [13] v t e
	مشير Mushir		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 [14] 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 [15] v t e
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Mali	No navy
Mauritanian Navy [16] v t e
					فريق Fariq		لواء Liwa				عميد بحري Amid baḥriun		مقدم بحري Muqaddam baḥriun		رائد بحري Ra'id baḥriun		نقيب بحري Naqib baḥriun		ملازم أول بحري Mulazim awwal baḥriun			ملازم بحري Mulazim baḥriun
Mauritius	No navy
Royal Moroccan Navy [17] 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 [18] v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral junior grade		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant junior grade			Ensign
Niger	No navy
Nigerian Navy [19] v t e
	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant			Midshipman
Rwanda	No navy
Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
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
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 [20] [21] v t e
							Major general [a]		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Sierra Leone Navy v t e
							Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Sub-Lieutenant
Somali Navy [22] v t e
					Admiraal guud		Admiraal gaas		Admiraal guuto		Gashaanle sare		Gashaanle dhexe		Gashaanle		Dhamme		Laba xídígle			Xídígle
Somaliland Coast Guard v t e
					Admiraal kuxigeenka		Admiraal gaas		Admiraal guuto		Gashaanle sare		Gashaanle dhexe		Gashaanle		Dhamme		Laba xídígle			Xídígle
South African Navy [23] v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (junior grade)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign
South Sudan	No navy
Sudanese Navy [24] v t e
	مشیر Mushir		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
Swaziland	No navy
Tanzania Naval Command v t e
					Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign
Togolese Navy [25] 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 [26] v t e
					فريق أول بالبحرية Fariq 'awal bialbaḥria		فريق بالبحرية Fariq bialbaḥria		أمير لواء بالبحرية 'amir liwa' bialbaḥria		عميد بالبحرية Amid bialbaḥria	عقيد بالبحرية Aqid bialbaḥria	مقدم بالبحرية Muqaddam bialbaḥria		رائد بالبحرية Ra'id bialbaḥria		نقيب بالبحرية Naqib bialbaḥria		ملازم أول بالبحرية Mulazim 'awal bialbaḥria			ملازم بالبحرية Mulazim bialbaḥria
					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	No navy
Zambia	No navy
Zimbabwe	No navy
Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

See also

• Comparative navy officer ranks of the Americas
• Ranks and insignia of NATO navies officers

Notes

1. Introduced December 2024

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. "Grades Et Appellations Officier Generaux Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
5. "Grades Et Appellations Officier Superieurs Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
6. "Grades Et Appellations Officier Subalternes Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
7. "Anexo A". Boletim Oficial (in Portuguese). 1 (4). Government of Cape Verde: 133–136. 18 January 2017.
8. "Grades appellations distinctions". defense.gouv.cg (in French). Ministry of National Defense (Republic of the Congo). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
9. "Décret n° 2018-190/PR/MD portant révision du décret de la commission « marathon » n° 88-043/PR/DEF du 31 mai 1988 révisé en 2002 relatif au Statut Général des Militaires (SGM)" [Decree No. 2018-190/PR/MD revising the Decree of the "Marathon" Commission No. 88-043/PR/DEF of 31 May 1988 revised in 2002 relating to the General Status of the Military (SGM).] (in French). 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2025.
10. "GRADES / APPELLATIONS / DISTINCTIONS". defense.gouv.ci (in French). Ministère de la Défense. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
11. "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
12. "Defense Act of 2008" (PDF). 3 September 2008. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
13. 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.
14. "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.
15. "Commissioned Officers". Malawi Defence Force. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
16. "رتب الضباط" [Officer ranks]. armee.mr/ (in Arabic). Armed Forces of Mauritania. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
17. 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.
18. "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
19. 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.
20. "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
21. "Seychelles Strengthens Military Leadership with Key Appointments". Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles. 31 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 October 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
22. 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.
23. "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
24. "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.
25. "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
26. "Les grades des officers de la marine". Ministry of National Defense (in French). Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2025.