African military budgets surge as tensions rise over Western Sahara
In 2024, African countries allocated $52.1 billion (€46 billion) for armaments, marking a 3 percent rise compared to the previous year. Algeria and Morocco significantly boosted their military budgets, according to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Algeria and Morocco accounted for 90 percent of North Africa's defence budget, which in 2024 amounted to $30.2 billion (€26.68 billion), an increase of 8.8 percent from the previous year.
The primary source of tension between these countries is the dispute over Western Sahara. Algeria, supporting the Polisario Front separatists, increased its defence budget by 12 percent to $21.8 billion (€19.26 billion).
Morocco, in contrast, raised its military spending by 2.6 percent, reaching $5.5 dollars (€4.86 billion), with plans to increase the budget to $13 billion (€11.49 billion) this year.
Increase in spending in Sahel countries
Sahel countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, also reported sharp increases in their defence budgets. It is worth noting that these are countries where Russia's influence is growing.
Mali increased its spending by 38 percent between 2020 and 2024, and the defence budget for 2025 has been set at over $816 million (€720 billion). Burkina Faso and Niger also significantly raised their military spending, by 108 percent and 56 percent respectively.
Not all African countries increased their spending on armaments. South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast opted for budget cuts. In 2024, South Africa's defence budget was $2.8 billion (€2.47 billion), which has decreased to $2.2 billion (€1.94 billion) this year.
