How a ‘military vacuum’ in West and Central Africa opened new markets for China
Beijing has increased engagement with countries in the Sahel following the French military exit, and with Russian weapons in short supply
As France’s influence fades and with Russian weapons in limited supply, a “military vacuum” has been created in West and Central Africa that China is uniquely positioned to fill, according to analysts.
This follows a wave of military coups across the Sahel since 2020 – including in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – that has ended traditional alliances and security frameworks, with French forces withdrawing from the region after a long-running counterterrorism campaign.
The French “military vacuum” was identified as providing “space for the expansion of China’s military trade”, the report in the journal of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said.
The report also said there were “market substitution opportunities” for Chinese weapons in the region as the use of French and Russian arms declined.