Over the past two decades, Russia has become a major supplier of arms to Africa, surpassing other global powers in military exports to the continent. This increase in arms sales has often coincided with broader geopolitical activities, including the involvement of Russia’s Wagner group in various African regions.
According to the Grey Zone Report, Russian arms deals are often tied to bilateral military cooperation agreements, sometimes laying the groundwork for the presence of Wagner operatives. These deals are seen as part of Russia’s broader push to expand its commercial and political influence in Africa, particularly as sanctions related to the war in Ukraine have strained its relationships with Western markets.
Between 2016 and 2020, around 45.2% of Africa’s weapon imports came from Russia, as reported by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Algeria topped the list, importing nearly $7 billion worth of arms, followed closely by Egypt at $4 billion.
However, while some African countries have leaned heavily on Russian military support, others have kept their defense ties to Moscow minimal. In fact, several African nations have either minimal or zero recorded imports of Russian arms between 2000 and 2021.
Here are the Top 10 African Countries That Have Bought the Least Weapons from Russia, according to the Grey Zone Report:
| Rank | Country | Volume of Arms Imports (2000–2021) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central African Republic | 1 |
| 2 | Guinea | 1 |
| 3 | Djibouti | 3 |
| 4 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 7 |
| 5 | Mozambique | 7 |
| 6 | Equatorial Guinea | 14 |
| 7 | Zambia | 19 |
| 8 | Chad | 20 |
| 9 | Kenya | 20 |
| 10 | Niger | 21 |
It’s important to note that countries with zero Russian arms imports during this period were not included in the list.
These low figures reflect a preference among these nations for diversified or Western-aligned military partnerships, or in some cases, a strategic focus on economic collaboration rather than military engagement with Russia.
As Russian economic and military ambitions evolve on the African continent, the nature of these relationships will likely continue to shift—especially under the pressure of ongoing geopolitical tensions and sanctions.
