Why Sahel States Are Turning to Chinese Military Gear

Mali took delivery of the first batch of 36 Norinco CS/VP14 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from China in July 2025.

In early September, Guinea’s port of Conakry turned into a military stage as convoys of CS/VP-14 mine-resistant vehicles, VN-22 6×6 infantry carriers, command and recovery vehicles, and even an SR-5 rocket artillery system rolled off Chinese cargo ships and headed toward Mali’s capital.

With Burkina Faso having already taken delivery of similar hardware, the Sahel is now seeing the rise of a distinct “China-equipped” military cluster. This marks a striking sign of how West Africa’s embattled states are reshaping their arsenals in the face of relentless insurgent violence.

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by Han Zhen

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