The most militarily powerful country in Africa is most likely Ethiopia which has one of the most effective security apparatuses on the continent. Ethiopia is the recipient of international aid from the U.S. Much of this money has been spent on amplifying their military presence. This has allowed Ethiopia to engage in peacekeeping efforts around the continent. These peacekeeping efforts are sometimes violent in nature, like the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia in 2006-2009. Despite this, The U.S. has sent millions of dollars in aid to Ethiopia because of its strategic importance in maintaining order and providing counter-terrorism efforts in East Africa. The African Union (AU), an organization consisting of 54 African states also plays an important role in providing security for the continent as a whole. The AU’s counter terrorism protocols and peacekeeping forces help combat terrorism and maintain order in Africa.