Although arms imports into Africa declined by 41%, competition among sub-Saharan African countries to strengthen their military capabilities remains intense, according to a report published on March 9 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The report identifies the ten largest arms importers in sub-Saharan Africa between 2021 and 2025, based on SIPRI’s Trend Indicator Values (TIV), which measure the volume of international arms transfers.
According to SIPRI researcher Dr. Mathew George, countries such as Nigeria, Senegal and Mali together accounted for 13% of the region’s arms imports during the period.
1. Nigeria
Nigeria remained the biggest arms importer in sub-Saharan Africa, representing 16% of the region’s total imports with purchases valued at 532.4 million TIV.
The country acquired fighter jets, helicopters, armored vehicles, anti-tank missiles, warships and drones from suppliers including Turkey, China, the United States, France, Russia and South Korea.
2. Senegal
Senegal ranked second after spending 298.46 million TIV, equal to 8.8% of regional imports.
The country boosted its naval and air capabilities by purchasing patrol boats, missile boats, surveillance aircraft, anti-ship missiles and armored vehicles to secure offshore oil and gas operations.
Its main suppliers include France, China, Germany, Turkey, the United States and South Africa.
3. Mali
Mali came third with military imports worth 272.17 million TIV, accounting for 8% of the region’s total.
Since 2020, the Malian Armed Forces have expanded rapidly as the country intensifies operations against armed groups. Mali has increasingly turned toward Russia for military cooperation following tensions with France.
The country imported drones, missiles, armored vehicles, aircraft and heavy weapons from Russia, China, Turkey, Canada and South Africa.
4. Ethiopia
Ethiopia spent 172.85 million TIV on military equipment amid internal conflicts, particularly the war in Tigray.
The country imported fighter jets, drones, armored vehicles and heavy weapons from Russia, Turkey, China, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
5. Angola
Angola recorded arms imports worth 160.3 million TIV as it continued strengthening maritime and air security capabilities.
Its purchases included military transport vessels, aircraft engines and amphibious landing ships supplied mainly by Spain, Belarus, France and Canada.
6. Kenya
Kenya imported weapons worth 140.62 million TIV due to ongoing security threats linked to crime and the militant group Al-Shabaab.
The country bought armored personnel carriers, missiles, helicopters and Bayraktar TB-2 drones from Turkey, Israel, the United States and South Korea.
7. Mauritania
Mauritania spent 134.36 million TIV on arms imports despite being considered relatively stable within the Sahel region.
Its acquisitions included air defense systems, reconnaissance drones, armored vehicles and anti-tank missiles.
8. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso imported weapons valued at 127.64 million TIV as it continued battling jihadist insurgencies.
The country purchased combat helicopters, bombs, armored vehicles, rocket launchers and Bayraktar TB-2 drones from countries including Turkey, China, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
9. Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, recorded imports worth 120.33 million TIV.
The country strengthened security along its northern borders through the acquisition of helicopters, armored vehicles and patrol boats from suppliers such as France, Turkey, South Africa and Israel.
10. Rwanda
Rwanda completed the top ten with arms imports valued at 118.73 million TIV.
Rwanda enhanced its air defense capacity by purchasing combat helicopters, armored personnel carriers and surface-to-air missile systems from Turkey, China, Russia, Qatar and the United States.
Outside the top ten, Sudan recorded imports worth 115.02 million TIV, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo spent nearly 110.9 million TIV. Niger, another Sahel country facing jihadist violence, imported weapons worth 76.54 million TIV.
The report also notes that the United States remained the largest arms exporter to Africa overall with 19% of the market, followed by China at 17%, Russia at 15%, and France at 8.3%.
China alone supplied 22% of the weapons imported by 23 sub-Saharan African countries between 2021 and 2025, ahead of Russia with 12% and Turkey with 11%.
