Top 10 African countries that have bought the most weapons from Russia

While Russia remains a far smaller economic partner to Africa than Western countries or China, its interests with the continent, as is with other global superpowers are deeply rooted in vital areas such as weaponry, mining, and energy (including nuclear energy).

Analysts have deduced that, despite its relatively limited economic interests, Russia wields unexpectedly strong political influence on the continent.

Additionally, a number of bilateral military cooperation agreements have, in some cases, preceded the deployment of Wagner soldiers in an African partner country,

Russian arms shipments to African nations have grown significantly beyond those of other major arms suppliers.

The range of military and political services Russia provides to its allies may be viewed as part of this power projection arsenal, as per the Grey Zone Report.

“Russian arms exports to African countries have increased to far outweigh other major arms suppliers, as have the number of bilateral military cooperation agreements, which have, in some instances, been a precursor to the deployment of Wagner troops in an African partner country,” the report states.

Members of Wagner group looks from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023.ROMAN ROMOKHOV/AFP via Getty Images

Three years have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the war has had a severe impact on Russia’s armaments sector, leading to a sharp decline in arms exports.

The conflict and armaments research group Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIRPI) estimates that Russian arms shipments fell by half between 2019 and 2023 as compared to the preceding five-year period, according to Business Insider.

Nonetheless, there are several African countries with a significant volume of Russian arms, and below are 10 of said countries that bought the most weapons from Russia from 2000 to 2021, according to data from the Grey Report.