China supplies air defence systems to Mali and missiles to Burkina Faso
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on AGP Gabon
China is supplying advanced military equipment, including air defence systems to Mali and missiles to Burkina Faso, while its sales also include radars and electronic warfare equipment. The expansion comes amid France’s withdrawal from the Sahel and strategic competition, according to Radio France Internationale.
China is supplying air defence systems to Mali and missiles to Burkina Faso as part of an expansion of its sales of sophisticated weapons in Africa, Radio France Internationale reports. Beijing is also delivering armed drones to Ivory Coast, as well as radars and electronic warfare equipment to several countries on the continent.
China is taking advantage of the French military withdrawal from the Sahel, US restrictions and Russia’s mobilisation by the war in Ukraine to strengthen its presence in the defence sector, according to RFI. It is also using Africa as a training ground for its army: in Egypt, six Chinese fighter jets travelled 6,000 kilometres to practise against French Rafale aircraft.
Since opening its first military base in Djibouti in 2017, Beijing has stepped up naval exercises and deployments in Africa. According to RFI, these operations are intended in particular to enable the Chinese military to learn how to intervene far from its borders and protect Chinese investments and nationals.
