Arms Sales Drop Across Most Of Africa

Arms imports in West Africa have climbed in the past decade, even as weaponry sales in much of the rest of the continent have been flat or declined, a 2026 study shows.

The difference is terrorism. West African nations are buying arms primarily to combat surging terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State group affiliates. The Sahel region is under constant attack.

Although arms imports by countries across Africa have decreased by 41% over the past decade, West African arms transfers rose sharply...