From rifles to radar: China upgrades its African arms trade as Russia and the West retreat
For decades, China has supplied African militaries with small arms and land-based equipment such as armoured vehicles, trucks and artillery. Now, it is selling them more specialised weapons, including armed drones and electronic warfare systems. Analysts noted that China’s African arms sales were shifting qualitatively to air-defence systems, armed drones and electronic warfare gear once…
China has been gradually upgrading its arms trade with African countries, moving from supplying basic small arms and land-based equipment to more advanced technologies such as armed drones and electronic warfare systems. Analysts have noted a qualitative shift in China's African arms sales, as these countries increasingly seek out China's more specialized weapons.
In April, Mali received Chinese Yitian-L air-defence systems, and in 2024 and 2025, Burkina Faso received armored vehicles, artillery, and other equipment from China.
The shift is particularly noticeable in the Sahel region, where both Mali and Burkina Faso have distanced themselves from defense cooperation with France and restricted US security assistance. Instead, they have sought Russian military support and turned to China for equipment in their fight against insurgencies. Furthermore, Ivory Coast has displayed Chinese-made armed drones, further highlighting the growing presence of Chinese military technology in Africa.
China's expanded defence engagement in the Sahel has been driven in part by the desire to avoid public criticism of local political developments, while also offering an alternative to Western suppliers who may hesitate to engage with countries experiencing political instability. China's advanced weaponry is not only more expensive but also comes with comprehensive support services such as training, maintenance, financing, and sophisticated technologies that many African countries cannot readily obtain from the US or Europe.
While China has become an important supplier of major arms to African states, the SIPRI estimates of these transfers may be underestimated due to the various costs involved. However, the price competitiveness and comprehensive support packages offered by China have made it an attractive supplier for African countries that maintain good relations with Western states. Historically, Russia has been the primary supplier of major arms to Africa, but China has now replaced Russia as the largest supplier to sub-Saharan Africa.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
