Sanctions on Russia may leave a gap in the African arms market. China may be ready to step in

China is a relatively small player in a market dominated by Russia but could be well placed to grow its share

Major African buyers such as Egypt are looking to diversify their supplies and Beijing has close ties with many countries on the continent

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Visitors examine Kalashnikovs at the 2019 Russia-Africa summit in Sochi. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 10:00pm, 9 Apr 2022Updated: 10:13pm, 9 Apr 2022

Russia is the undisputed biggest supplier of arms and military equipment to Africa, but sanctions imposed by the West could allow China to snatch a sizeable market share.

Financial and other restrictions introduced by the United States and many European countries following the invasion of Ukraine have hurt Russia’s supply chains and production of defence equipment.

Russia provides more than half of all arms sold in Africa, which is more than double the next largest supplier, France, followed by the United States and China, according to analysts.

Joseph Siegle, research director for the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defence University in Washington, said Russia’s largest African customers were Algeria, Egypt and Sudan, followed by Angola.

“This is significant since it underscores Russia’s efforts to establish a foothold in North Africa,” Siegle said.

“Along with Moscow’s support to Libyan warlord Khalifa Hifter, this establishes a Russian presence along Nato’s southern flank, allows Russia to exert influence in the eastern Mediterranean, and enables Moscow to threaten key global chokeholds in the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandab [the strait between the Horn of Africa and Arabian peninsula].”