Russia has long been the top arms supplier to Africa. However, the Ukraine war has made it difficult for Russia to maintain its arms exports to Africa due to international sanctions and the need to support its ongoing conflict. Seizing this opportunity, China, the world’s second-largest arms producer and fourth-largest arms exporter, is dramatically expanding its arms exports to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Chinese weapons have been found in numerous conflict zones across Sub-Saharan Africa, as Beijing has been actively supplying weapons to conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Additionally, Chinese weapons are flowing into Chad, Angola, Nigeria, Mali, and other countries. In Nigeria, weapons factories have been established, exporting Chinese arms to other African nations, such as Zimbabwe.