China expands Africa arms sales, displacing France and Western rivals

China is overtaking Western suppliers, particularly France, by expanding its exports to African nations beyond small arms, armoured vehicles, trucks, and artillery to include air defence systems, combat drones, and electronic warfare assets.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, based on researchers and military movements across the region, African buyers are gravitating towards the advantages of quality and accessibility offered by the Beijing administration.

In April, four vehicles spotted in a Malian army convoy were identified by defence intelligence company Janes as Chinese-manufactured Yitian-L air defence systems.

In September, the Presidency of Burkina Faso published footage of military equipment inspections and testing.

Observers noted that the released footage featured a mobile surveillance radar and a missile launch vehicle belonging to the Sky Dragon family produced by Chinese company Norinco.

In August, Cote d’Ivoire also showcased Wing Loong II armed unmanned aerial vehicles procured under a contract signed in June 2024 with Chinese state-owned enterprise Catic.

A distinct shift is unfolding in the weapons procurement trajectory of Sahel countries that have ended defence cooperation with France and run into US security assistance restrictions.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023, transitioning the structure into a confederation in July 2024.

Following the transfer of power to military authorities, these nations progressively severed ties with France and turned their attention towards new partnerships.

Western bans and budget constraints pave way for Beijing

David Shinn, a former US ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia and a specialist in China-Africa relations, pointed out that the quality of Chinese military equipment has risen and that Beijing is willing to enter markets where the West hesitates.

“Unlike many Western countries, China will sell military equipment to any country so long as it is not under a United Nations sanction,” Shinn said.

Experts speaking to the newspaper stated that high-technology defence systems, previously purchased mainly from the West and accessible to only a few countries on the continent, are now being shipped more frequently to Africa by China.

Katarina Djokic, a researcher with the Arms Transfers Programme at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), said affordable pricing, including maintenance costs, plays a critical role in procurement choices.

Djokic noted that countries maintaining good relations with the West also procure weapons from China.

According to SIPRI assessments, shipments to African nations have not yet reached a volume large enough to fundamentally alter China’s overall arms export figures.

SIPRI data for the 2021-2025 period placed China as the world’s fifth-largest supplier, accounting for a 5.6% share of global arms exports.

During this timeframe, China’s largest customer was Pakistan with a 61% share, followed by Serbia at 6.8% and Thailand at 4.7%.

In SIPRI’s records for 2020-2024, Africa accounted for 14% of China’s major arms exports, ranking as its second-largest market behind Asia and Oceania’s 77% share.

Between 2020 and 2024, the Beijing administration carried out arms sales to a total of 44 countries worldwide.