CHINA has overtaken Russia to become the largest exporter of arms to sub-Saharan Africa, supplying a wide array of weaponry including drones, rockets, artillery, armoured vehicles, aircraft, firearms, ammunition, missiles, space systems, radar, and electronic warfare systems to conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, and other areas.
‘China’s economic dominance in Africa has extended to security affairs,’ said Earl Conteh-Morgan, a specialist in Chinese-African relations at the University of South Florida, in an interview with France 24.
Between 2019 and 2023, at least 21 sub-Saharan African countries received significant arms shipments from China, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). An estimated 70 percent of African armies now use Chinese-made armoured vehicles, as reported by the defence publication Janes. These arms sales not only generate revenue for China but also help it expand its influence by offering weapons at competitive prices.
‘There is a larger strategy at play,’ said Paul Nantulya of the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies to The Economist. ‘China aims to be seen as a preferred partner through its weapons sales.’
Russia’s reduced arms exports to Africa are a result of international sanctions due to its war with Ukraine and the need to support its own armed forces.
Oluwole Ojewale, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, told Voice of America that African nations are turning to Beijing for arms because Chinese deals are not restricted by International Traffic in Arms regulations.
China has traditionally focused its efforts on East and Central Africa, but it is now targeting West African nations where French influence is waning, according to Danilo delle Fave, a Chinese security specialist at the nonprofit International Team for the Study of Security Verona, in an interview with France 24.
In August 2023, Norinco, China’s largest weapons producer, opened a sales office in Senegal, adding to its offices in Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa. Plans are underway to establish more offices in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. ‘Chinese companies are adept at filling competitive gaps,’ said Luke Patey, a specialist in Chinese economic relations at the Danish Institute for International Studies, to France 24.
China has historically sold arms to resource-rich countries like Nigeria and Sudan, facilitating access to vast oil reserves. Chinese arms deals often come bundled with flexible financing arrangements, military cooperation, and officer training. Beijing sometimes includes weapons in broader deals to enhance diplomatic and trade relations. For example, in 2023, China donated $28 million in military equipment to Zimbabwe.
‘China can provide a whole new army along with infrastructure projects like railroads,’ said Siemon Wezeman of SIPRI to The Economist.
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and private security companies facilitate the flow of arms, providing training and maintenance support as part of the purchase package, according to geopoliticalmonitor.com.
However, the influx of Chinese weapons has also fuelled ongoing conflicts. In Sudan, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces used Chinese suicide drones to attack Sudan Armed Forces military bases in April. Eyewitnesses reported drone attacks on military installations in Gadaref, the capital of al-Gadaref State, to Reuters, describing explosions and anti-aircraft missile fire. No casualties were reported.
‘Sudan is a key part of China’s strategy to bring East and North Africa into its sphere of influence,’ said Paul Sullivan, a Middle East analyst at the Atlantic Council, to Voice of America. ‘This involves business, investments, infrastructure, and education, including teaching Mandarin.’
China is also interested in Sudan’s gold deposits and ports, he added.
