Middle East & Africa | Arms for Africa

Chinese weapons are taking over in Africa

Sales are helped by low prices and a lack of scruples

A Main Battle Tank 3000 (VT-4) on display at the stand of China North Industries Group Corporation
Charging the marketPhotograph: Alamy

When soldiers from China have made forays onto African battlefields, they have done so cautiously as UN peacekeepers. The sales teams that market their weapons overseas are far more gung-ho and have been fanning out across the region—armed with brochures and freebies—in search of new customers.

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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Arms for Africa”

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