Military Africa published on 20 March 2022 an article titled "Despite War, Russia Overtakes China as Major Arms Supplier to Sub-Saharan Africa" by Ekene Lionel.
Drawing on data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute for the years 2018-2022, the article notes that Russia passed China as the largest supplier of major weapons to Sub-Saharan Africa. (Russia has led China in arms sales to North Africa for many years.)
Russia's arms exports to all of Africa increased by 23 percent over the last four years compared to 2011-2015. In 2020 and early 2021, Russia signed arms contracts with African countries worth over $1.7 billion. On the other hand, Russia is destroying its weapons stock in Ukraine and will have trouble filling future orders.
