Over the years, the continent has endured numerous internal conflicts, often resulting in the collapse of governments through coups and civil wars. Many of these conflicts have been linked to external influences, facilitated by arms and mercenary supplies.
As a result, there have been growing calls for stricter regulation of the arms trade, which is currently dominated by the “Big Five”—the United States, Russia, China, France, and Ukraine.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), shows that between 2019 and 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for just 2.2% of global imports of major arms.
In 2023, Africa’s total military spending reached $51.6 billion, marking a 22% increase from 2022 and a 1.5% rise compared to 2014. Sub-Saharan Africa contributed $23.1 billion to this total, reflecting an 8.9% increase from 2022 but a decline compared to 2014.
The increase in military spending in 2023 was largely driven by Nigeria, the subregion’s largest military spender, which saw a 20% rise in its defense budget.
In the same year, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded the world’s largest percentage increase in military expenditure, doubling its spending by 105% to $794 million. Sudan followed closely with the second-highest global percentage increase, raising its spending by 78% to $1.1 billion in 2023, after a staggering 108% increase in 2022.
This surge in military spending across these African nations is primarily attributed to escalating internal violence and mounting security challenges.
The table below shows the six largest importers of military arms between 2019 and 2023;
| Rank | Countries | % Import |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Nigeria |
16.00% |
|
2 |
Angola |
9.20% |
|
3 |
Senegal |
9.20% |
|
4 |
Mali |
8.00% |
|
5 |
Uganda |
5.60% |
|
6 |
Ethiopia |
4.90% |
According to the table, the top three countries in terms of arms imports are Nigeria, Angola, and Senegal, which collectively accounted for approximately 34.4% of the total arms imports in the region.
Nigeria led the pack, accounting for 16% of the total imports, while Angola and Senegal followed closely, each accounting for 9.2% of the total imports.
When compared to the records in 2014-18, Angola and Nigeria remained the top arms importers while Sudan and Cameroon were the third and fourth largest arms recipients during that period.
