African arms race: Rising defense budgets amid regional tensions
In 2024, African countries allocated $52.1 billion for armaments, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year. Algeria and Morocco significantly boosted their military budgets, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Algeria and Morocco accounted for 90% of North Africa's defense budget, which in 2024 amounted to $30.2 billion, representing an 8.8% increase from the previous year.
The main source of tension between these countries is the dispute over Western Sahara. Algeria, supporting the Polisario Front separatists, increased its defense budget by 12% to $21.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Morocco raised its military spending by 2.6%, reaching $5.5 billion, with plans to increase the budget to $13 billion this year.
Increased spending in Sahel countries
Sahel countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, also recorded sharp increases in defense budgets. Notably, these are countries where Russia's influence is growing.
Mali increased its spending by 38% between 2020 and 2024, with a defense budget for 2025 set at over $816 million. Burkina Faso and Niger also significantly raised their military spending by 108% and 56%, respectively.
Not all African countries increased their armament spending. South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast decided on budget cuts. In 2024, South Africa's defense budget was $2.8 billion and has decreased to $2.2 billion this year.
