China Steps In as New Arms Supplier to Africa’s Sahel Amid France and Russia’s Retreat

As the security landscape in Africa’s Sahel region shifts, China is rapidly filling a weapons supply gap left by traditional powers like France and Russia. This change has been driven by political realignments, military coups, and ongoing conflicts, allowing China to expand its military footprint in a region plagued by instability and terrorism.

Burkina Faso, a country at the heart of the Sahel, offers a clear example of this shift. In 2024 alone, its ruling military junta received 116 infantry carriers and six assault vehicles from China—a striking contrast to the dwindling military assistance from France and the United States. France’s last notable shipment occurred between 2019 and 2020, and the U.S. supplied only engines in 2021. After Burkina Faso's 2022 coup led by Ibrahim Traoré, French troops were expelled, marking the end of a long-standing security partnership under France’s Operation Barkhane.

Meanwhile, Russia, once a major arms supplier to West African nations like Mali and Niger, has been bogged down by its war in Ukraine. With its ability to export arms curtailed, the door opened for China to strengthen its presence. Companies like Norinco—China’s largest weapons manufacturer—have set up shop in West Africa, opening offices in Nigeria and Senegal and delivering armored vehicles to governments such as Burkina Faso’s.

China’s appeal to these nations lies in more than just weaponry. It offers military hardware that is affordable, available on short notice, and tailored to local counterinsurgency needs. More importantly, unlike Western nations, China does not tie its deals to conditions related to governance or human rights reforms. For countries dealing with internal unrest and strained relations with the West, that no-strings-attached approach is attractive.

In Mali, where China’s economic interests are already entrenched through ventures like lithium mining, a new deal was signed with Norinco covering not just weapons but also training and technology transfer. In Niger, China is similarly keen to strengthen military ties, as its companies invest heavily in oil and eye uranium resources.

Observers note that this is not just about military hardware—it’s part of a broader geopolitical strategy. China, along with Russia, aims to fill the void left by the shrinking influence of Western powers. Even though Beijing is cautious not to openly undercut Moscow to preserve their strategic partnership, it is undeniably challenging Russia’s dominance in West Africa’s defense market.

China’s growing involvement has also reached Nigeria, which signed a deal with Norinco in 2019 to fight Boko Haram and is now exploring domestic arms production with Chinese support. This partnership aligns with Nigeria’s ambitions to build its own defense industry, something China is well positioned to support through technology and investment.

In the evolving security dynamics of the Sahel, China is no longer just a player—it is becoming a key power. By offering weapons without political baggage and pairing military support with economic influence, Beijing is quietly reshaping the region’s defense alliances.