Morocco Surpasses Algeria as France’s Top Arms Customer in Africa, Report Shows

With orders worth 425.9 million euros, Morocco has become France’s top customer in Africa, far outpacing Algeria (3rd, with 41.1 million euros) which, until then, held this position. The other countries in the top 5 are: Senegal (2nd, with 217.2 million euros in orders), Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire.

Globally, Morocco ranks 3rd in the ranking behind Saudi Arabia (1st, 703.9 million euros) and the United States (2nd, 433.6 million euros). European countries remain France’s main customers in 2020, according to the annual report on arms exports in 2020.

Last year, France received 4.9 billion euros in orders. Compared to 2019 (8.3 billion euros), French arms sales experienced a sharp decline. The Ministry of the Armed Forces justifies this decline by an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. France has nevertheless maintained its third place in the global ranking. It is ahead of China and Germany and behind the United States and Russia.

Africa accounts for 16% of the total orders placed last year, behind the European Zone (25%), the Near and Middle East zone (24%) and the Asia-Pacific zone (22%).