Burkina Faso Bolsters Military Arsenal with Chinese Hardware

West African Nation Receives Advanced Vehicles to Counter Sahel Insurgency

Burkina Faso has received a significant shipment of Chinese-made military equipment, including advanced fire support vehicles, self-propelled gun-mortars, and multiple rocket launchers. This acquisition is a key part of the nation’s strategy to enhance its armed forces and combat escalating security challenges in the Sahel region.

New Equipment Enhances Firepower and Mobility

The recent delivery comprises VN22B wheeled fire support vehicles, PLL-05 120 mm self-propelled gun-mortars, and SR5 multiple rocket launch systems. Footage circulating on social media depicted these newly painted vehicles, sporting desert and tropical camouflage, at a port before their transit to the landlocked West African country.

The VN22B, a product of China’s Norinco, is designed for versatility, featuring a turret-mounted cannon and sophisticated targeting systems suitable for both urban and open-terrain combat. The PLL-05 offers flexible support by combining mortar and direct-fire gun capabilities. Meanwhile, the SR5 rocket system is capable of deploying guided and unguided munitions for precise or area-saturation strikes.

Procurement Details and Financial Uncertainties

While Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Defence has not disclosed the financial terms of the deal, the payment method remains undisclosed. Defence analysts note the country’s strained public finances, with World Bank data indicating a sharp drop in arms imports from $28 million in 2021 to $1 million in 2022. This raises questions about whether the purchase was financed through direct payment, concessional loans, barter, or deferred arrangements.

Modernization Aligned with National Defense Strategy

Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Kassoum Coulibaly, has previously affirmed that this procurement aligns with a multi-phase modernization plan. The plan was announced by Junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, on December 31, 2023, with the objective of equipping the armed forces for high-intensity operations across the Sahel.

China’s Growing Influence in African Security Sector

These deliveries underscore China’s expanding diplomatic and commercial reach within Africa’s security sector. Arms sales serve as a strategic tool for China to deepen bilateral relationships across the continent. This trend is evidenced by China’s growing presence in African nations, including Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mali, and Kenya, with their military equipment becoming more prominent.

Previously, in June 2024, Burkina Faso received earlier shipments of Chinese armored vehicles, such as the CS/VP14 and VP11 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) units, as part of its ongoing modernization efforts. The VP11 armored vehicle, also manufactured by Norinco, is already operational in Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Mali. Kenya, meanwhile, utilizes the CS/VP14 MRAP vehicle.

In a bid to diversify its suppliers, Ouagadougou has also procured Egyptian-made Buffalo E10 mine-resistant vehicles and Turkish Ejder Yalçın armored personnel carriers over the past year.

For Burkina Faso, these new systems are anticipated to significantly bolster its mobility, firepower, and deterrence capabilities in an ongoing conflict environment that continues to exert pressure on the nation’s security forces. Recent analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicates that while global military spending reached a record $2.44 trillion in 2023, African nations continue to navigate complex security and economic landscapes when acquiring new defense systems (SIPRI, 2024).