Russia's Presence in African Arms Market on the Decline

Russia's presence in the African arms market has declined in recent years, despite Rosoboronexport's high profile activities in Algeria and Sudan.

At various points during the Cold War, Russia was the primary arms supplier to regimes from Libya to Ethiopia to Angola; however, its overall share of the African market has continued to fall.

In 1999, Russia controlled nearly 6 percent of the African market, but by 2006, its share had dropped to just over 3 percent.

More­over, the importance of the African market to the Russian defense industry has waned as Africa's Total share of exports declined from 21 percent in 1999 to 18 percent in 2006 and approximately 15 percent in 2008.

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