Africa’s 4.5% global arms imports raises security fears — Report

Nigeria and several African countries may face growing security vulnerabilities due to limited access to modern weapons systems, according to new data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The report, published in March 2026, shows that Africa accounted for just 4.5 per cent of global arms imports between 2020 and 2025, a sharp contrast to Europe’s commanding 48.2 per cent share.

The data tracks international transfers of major weapons systems — including sales, military aid, and licensed production — measured by volume rather than monetary value.

Security analysts warn that the imbalance could significantly weaken the ability of African nations to respond effectively to rising threats such as terrorism, insurgency, and transnational crime.

Across the continent, total arms imports stood at 3.095 billion in volume terms during the review period. Egypt emerged as Africa’s largest importer at 825 million, followed by Morocco at 522 million and Algeria at 313 million. Other countries, including Nigeria (114 million), Ethiopia (111 million), and Sudan (107 million), recorded comparatively modest figures.

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Nigeria’s share represented just 0.2 per cent of global imports, with a notable decline from 93 million in 2024 to 21 million in 2025. Angola, Kenya, and Mauritania also posted moderate import volumes, each contributing roughly 0.2 per cent to global totals.

By contrast, Europe accounted for nearly half of all global arms imports, with a combined volume of 30.9 billion. Ukraine topped the global chart at 7.605 billion — approximately 12 per cent of total imports — driven largely by the ongoing war with Russia and sustained military assistance from Western allies.

Poland followed with 3.711 billion, while Germany recorded 1.872 billion. The United States ranked fourth with 1.798 billion, alongside other major European importers such as Greece, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Italy, Hungary, Belgium, and Norway each contributed between 1.2 and 1.7 per cent of global imports, further underscoring Europe’s dominance in global arms flows.

On the supply side, the United States retained its position as the world’s leading arms exporter, accounting for 43 per cent of global exports with a total of 28 billion in transfers. France followed with 5.8 billion, while Russia recorded 4 billion. Germany and Israel also ranked among the top exporters, each posting 3.8 billion in transfers, highlighting a highly concentrated global arms supply chain.