New research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that African states’ imports of major arms fell by 44% between 2015–19 and 2020–24, mainly due to decreases in Algeria and Morocco’s arms imports.
A fact sheet on Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2024, shows that Algeria’s arms imports dropped by 73% in 2020–24 after reaching a peak in 2015–19. Between 2005–2009 and 2010–14, Morocco’s arms imports increased by more than 10 times (+1164%), but they have decreased in each period since then, for a 26% decline. However, based on its pending deliveries, Morocco’s arms imports are expected to increase in the coming years.
The main suppliers to Africa in 2020–24 were Russia (accounting for 21% of African imports of major arms), China (18%) and the USA (16%), according to SIPRI.
States in sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 2.2% of global imports of major arms in 2020–24. Their combined arms imports were 4.2% higher than in 2015–19 but 42% lower than in 2010–14.
“While imports of major arms by states in sub-Saharan Africa have remained at a relatively low level overall, imports by states in West Africa have risen sharply over the past 15 years as the security situation in many of those states has deteriorated.
In 2020–24 arms imports by West African states were 100% higher than in 2015–19 and 82% higher than in 2010–14,” SIPRI noted.
The sharp rise over these periods was primarily due to big increases in arms imports by Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. Nigeria was by far the largest arms importer among West African states, accounting for 34% of all imports of major arms to West Africa in 2020–24.
“The growth in arms imports to West Africa has been striking. While the volume of imports remains relatively small, it has important geopolitical implications,” said Katarina Djokic, Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. “States like Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal seem to be rapidly increasing their imports. Arms suppliers are using arms exports to boost their influence in this part of the world, including emerging suppliers—primarily Türkiye—alongside more established actors such as China, France, Russia and the USA.”
The biggest supplier to states in West Africa in 2020–24 was China, which accounted for 26% of West African arms imports, followed by France (14%) and Russia and Türkiye (each accounting for 11%). While the USA supplied only 4.6% of imports of major arms by West African states in 2020–24, it had the highest number of recipients (10) among suppliers to West Africa.
China, France and Türkiye supplied major arms to nine states each; Russia supplied four states. Senegal accounted for 79% of total West African imports of major arms from France, while Mali accounted for 54% of those from Russia.
Less than 5.0% of West African arms imports were in the form of aid in 2020–24. Of this aid, most came from the USA, which donated arms to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger before the coups and foreign policy changes in these states that took place during the period. (Defence Web) – (Flag of Morocco on military khaki texture.123rf)
