Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Senegal has significantly increased its arms imports in recent years, contributing to a broader trend of rising military acquisitions across West Africa, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report highlights that Senegal, along with Burkina Faso, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Niger, has been among the key drivers of the sharp rise in arms transfers to the region.

Notably, Senegal accounted for 79% of West African imports of major arms from France, reflecting the country’s deepening military partnership with Paris. Meanwhile, Mali sourced 54% of its Russian arms imports, signaling a shift in strategic alignments within the region.

Between 2020 and 2024, arms imports by West African states were 100% higher than in 2015–19 and 82% higher than in 2010–14. This growth in arms procurement underscores the deteriorating security situation across the region, marked by persistent insurgencies, political instability, and transnational threats.

China emerged as the dominant arms supplier to West African states, accounting for 26% of total imports. France followed with 14%, while Russia and Türkiye each contributed 11%.

Although the United States accounted for only 4.6% of West Africa’s major arms imports in 2020–24, it had the highest number of recipients (10) among suppliers.

The U.S. also provided military aid to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger before recent political upheavals in those countries altered their foreign policy stances. Less than 5% of West African arms imports during this period were classified as aid, with most of it coming from the U.S.

Regional Trends: Sub-Saharan Africa and Beyond

Overall, arms imports by African states fell by 44% between 2015–19 and 2020–24. This decline was primarily driven by significant reductions in acquisitions by Algeria (-73%) and Morocco (-26%). Based on its pending deliveries, Morocco’s arms imports are expected to increase in the coming years.

The main suppliers to Africa in 2020–24 were Russia (accounting for 21 per cent of African imports of major arms), China (18 per cent) and the USA (16 per cent).

However, the increase in West African arms imports stands in contrast to the broader trend across Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, arms imports rose by 4.2% and 2.2% of global imports of major arms in 2020–24, reflecting heightened security concerns and ongoing conflicts in parts of the region.

Global Dynamics: The U.S. Dominates Arms Exports

At the global level, the United States extended its lead as the world’s top arms exporter, accounting for 43% of total weapons transfers between 2020 and 2024. This figure is more than four times the share of France, the second-largest arms exporter. Europe has now become the primary recipient of U.S. arms, underscoring shifting geopolitical alignments and security priorities.

SIPRI’s data, which is based on the volume of arms transfers rather than financial value, provides a long-term perspective on military trends. The institute releases data in five-year periods to offer a more stable analysis of arms movements worldwide. The recent publication is part of a series of reports leading up to the SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which will offer comprehensive insights into global, regional, and national military expenditures.

With arms suppliers leveraging exports to bolster their influence, Senegal and other West African nations are expected to remain key players in the region’s evolving security landscape. The data suggests that while West African states continue to grapple with security threats, their military procurement strategies are also shaping international defense dynamics.