Africa spent billions on weapons. This year, the expenses will be even greater

Last year, all African countries spent $ 52.1 billion on reinforcement, by 3 percent. More than in 2023 Algeria, Morocco, Mali and many other countries of the continent increased this year's military budgets – according to the report of the Stockholm International Institute of Room Research (SIPRI).

The arms race in Africa is mainly driven by the competition between Algeria and Morocco and the fight with jihadists in the Sahel countries.

Only Algeria and Morocco were responsible for 90 percent. North Africa's defense budget, and the whole region spent $ 30.2 billion on reinforcements in 2024, which means an increase of 8.8 percent. compared to 2023.

The main source of tension between these two neighboring countries is the dispute over the Western Sahara for decades. Algeria, which supports the separatists from the Polisario front wanting to break this region from Morocco, increased its defense budget by 12 percent. in 2024 to $ 21.8 billion despite the two -digit unemployment. He buys fighters from Russia and modern corvettes from China from the sales of oil and gas sales and gas, becoming the fifth weapon importer in the world. The Bloomberg agency estimated in January that this year Algeria's military budget can exceed $ 25 billion.

Morocco, however, increased its military expenses by 2.6 percent last year.reaching $ 5.5 billion. And this year the government raised the military budget to $ 13 billion. The discount announced a tender for the purchase of two submarines, which the shipyards of France and Germany are seeking. Morocco bought Bayraktar TB2 from Turkey.

The rapid increases of defensive budgets were also recorded by three closely cooperating countries of Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – all ruled by military junty.

Mali military expenses increased by 38 percent. between 2020 and 2024 For 2025, the country's defensive budget was set at over $ 816 million, which is about 14.6 percent. national budget. Mali is still struggling with serious safety threats, especially in the Liptako-Gourma region, near the borders of Burkin Faso and Niger. This area was often the target of armed groups and terrorist organizations.

At the same time, Burkina Faso's military budget increased by 108 percent. Niger, on the other hand, increased its expenses by 56 percent. between 2022 and 2024.

Another country of Sahel, Chad, increased its military budget by 43 percent. Last year to $ 558 million.

Few African countries, looking for savings, cut the budgets of the army. Last year, the Republic of South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and ivory coast did.

This year, the South Africa's defensive budget has fallen fifth year in a row. Last year, it amounted to $ 2.8 billion, and in the current 2.2 billion. Instead of weapons, the government in Pretoria focused on improving social services.

Last year, the ivory coast allocated about 0.8 percent for the army. your GDP, less than $ 670 million this year. And Liberia, one of the smallest and poorest countries of Africa and the world, allocated $ 364 million for reinforcements in 2025, when only 308 million Ghana greater and much wealthier.

In Africa, the smallest budgets for the army and reinforcement were planned by Madagascar, Benin and the Central African Republic.

From Abidjan Tadeusz Brzozowski (PAP)

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