I definitely agree that one shouldn't apply standards for major powers to African militaries and the conflicts they fight.

That said, it's curious to see how many of 'high-intensity wars' in Africa are not attracting any attention at all: it's like only South Africa and Rwanda have fought any wars 'worth attention' there...

Ethiopian-Eritrean Wars (of 1970s and 1980s, and again of 1998-2001), were some of largest - if not the largest - conventional wars on the continent ever. They certainly involved more combatants than those in Angola, for example; saw intensive involvement of air power; saw mechanized warfare (including tank battles) and nothing else but manoeuvring warfare (even if in some of most problematic terrain one could imagine), but are not mentioned at all.

Ogaden War - between Ethiopia and Somalia, 1977-1978 - ditto: not only a 'big' war between two nation-states, but also a war of manoeuvre, fought by mechanized formations, and one in which the air power played the decisive role too.

Tanzanians rolled over the Ugandans during the Kagera War (also 'Liberation War', fought 1978-1979) - which was another conventional conflict, including mechanized forces, manoeuvre, and air power. But, if at all, this conflict is 'renowned' for completely botched-up Libyan 'intervention' - and one battle (where Tanzanians rolled over a combined Libyan-Ugandan force).

The III Angolan War - the one fought between Angolan government and the UNITA in the 1990s - is also de-facto unknown, although involving mechanized forces and air power (and plenty of manoeuvre, especially during the times both sides began deploying armour). If at all, Angola is 'famous' for making South Africans 'famous' - in the 1980s.

...while most of South African officers (including those of their air force) are meanwhile undergoing training in Zimbabwe and, if it's along 'old hands' of the SADF, the current condition of the South African military is that of a 'bloody shambles'.

Instead, the notion that the Rwandans have the 'best army' is falling again, although I strongly doubt anybody could explain in detail exactly why (mind, this comes from a co-author of a book about the military history of Rwandan Civil War with reviews of this kind.)

On the contrary: militaries like those of Chad - which not only bushwacked the highly praised Ugandans and Rwandans in the northern DRC of 1998-1999, but was recently 'recruited' to co-fight with the French in Mali - do not even find attention.

Kind of can't avoid the observation: 'amazing'.