China is expanding its military and security engagement into West Africa, with Chinese state-owned defence conglomerate Norinco opened a sales office in Dakar, Senegal, challenging French and Russian arms suppliers.

Analysts said China North Industries Corporation, or Norinco, would use the new office to help expand its military procurement operations in the region, where China has vast economic interests, including in countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea, which have recently been hit by military coups.

According to defence publication Military Africa, Norinco also aims to set up operations in Mali and Ivory Coast - countries where the Chinese military contractor already has market presence through the sale of arms. It also plans to establish centres for maintenance, repair, and overhaul of vehicles and military equipment in those West African countries. Norinco already has regional offices in Nigeria, Angola and South Africa.

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Early this year, Norinco supplied Senegal with VN2 armoured infantry fighting vehicles and other reconnaissance vehicles, according to Military Africa. The Chinese company is also reportedly in discussions with the Senegalese government to supply light weaponry and ammunition for the country's environment ministry, the publication reported.

Chinese arms manufacturers, including Norinco, want to increase market share at a time when the war in Ukraine has significantly cut Moscow's ability to supply African countries, according to observers.

France has also lost clout since the military junta in Mali and Burkina Faso pushed French forces out and the Russian-linked Wagner Group mercenaries moved in to fill the gap.

Paul Nantulya, a China specialist at the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies in Washington, said that initially China was reticent to be seen as challenging French military influence in West Africa, especially in former French colonies.

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Chinese ties were complicated by linguistic barriers. However, these impediments had slowly been overcome and Norinco in particular had been at the front of China's efforts to build and expand military and security ties, Nantulya said.

"The move to establish a sales office in Dakar is basically meant to capitalise on and expand this business, particularly in light of the heavy sanctions Russian defence firms have incurred and the growing mood of anti-French sentiment in the region that could complicate France's role as the pre-eminent military partner to many of those countries," Nantulya said.

He said there had been growing militarisation in aspects of Chinese-African engagement as well as a growing willingness by Chinese defence firms to more boldly challenge their Western counterparts for business, influence, strengthened partnerships and to position China as a partner of choice.

He said the Chinese company had been supplying West Africa with various military products such as battleships, offshore patrol vessels, man-portable air-defence systems, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), armoured vehicles, battle tanks, combat aircraft (jets and trainers), large artillery and transport aircraft.

China arms supplier Norinco is angling to expand its reach in Africa amid anti-French sentiment there, which saw French forces in Mali pushed out and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries enter (pictured). Photo: French Army via AP alt=China arms supplier Norinco is angling to expand its reach in Africa amid anti-French sentiment there, which saw French forces in Mali pushed out and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries enter (pictured). Photo: French Army via AP>

According to the Chinese Loans to Africa Database at Boston University's Global Development Policy Centre, between 2000 and 2020, China advanced 27 defence loans to eight African countries worth US$3.5 billion. Most of the money - US$2.1 billion - was advanced to Zambia for aircraft, fighter jet trainers and military equipment, and to build military and police residential housing.

David Shinn, a China-Africa expert and professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, said Norinco had been a major arms supplier to African countries for many years and working constantly to increase sales across the continent.

"The new office in Dakar is part of this wider effort," Shinn said.

He said Russia had historically been the main arms supplier to Africa but the war in Ukraine had reduced its ability to do this, opening the door for Chinese arms manufacturers, including Norinco, to increase market share at the expense of Russian companies.

"China is trying to increase both the quantity and sophistication of weapons that it sells to African countries," Shinn said. "These deals sometimes result in long-term supply and training arrangements that lead to increased security cooperation between African militaries and the PLA [People's Liberation Army]."

Luke Patey, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, said China had established a strong foothold in Africa's arms scene and Norinco was at the forefront of those effects.

"The rise of new conflicts and insurgencies on the continent produces expanding business opportunities for Chinese arms dealers," Patey said.

Regional offices like Norinco's new outfit in Senegal, he said, provided a steady environment to sell weaponry, equipment and vehicles to both stable regional governments but also those under siege, such as in Mali.

Patey said that since arms require training, parts and servicing, Norinco's new deals would deepen China's reach in West Africa and elsewhere for years to come.

Francois Vrey, a professor of military science and research coordinator at the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University, said armament companies opened offices where they viewed potential markets, and to offer support to clients buying their products. He said the latter then became part of packages offered to clients.

Besides the supply of arms and military weapons, Norinco is also a big player in contracting in many African countries, such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's mining industry, and it recently won a US$1.2 billion contract for the construction of a crude oil pipeline in South Sudan.

Huibang Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norinco, will serve as the engineering, procurement and contracting company. In June, Norinco was also among four companies that were shortlisted to buy Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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