11 African Countries That Actually Manufacture Some of Their Own Weapons

When ever you hear about war and the weapons used, one always assumes the weaponry used is manufactured in some western country. Africa is not generally known for producing weapons used in wars. Unbeknown to a lot of Africans, there are countries that aactually produce some weapons. Following is the list.

african countries weapons

South Africa

Developed out of the white apartheid regime desire to keep the South African Blacks under military repression, the South African arms industry is considered one of the most advanced in the non-Western world today, on par with fellow IBSA partners, India and Brazil. The wide-ranging locally-made weapons—some of which were categorized as crowd-control equipment—included transport and attack helicopters, armored personnel carriers, military trucks, internal security vehicles, assault rifles and hand guns.

Although weapons production has slowed considerably since the official end of apartheid, Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher, Arms Transfers Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,  says the South African arms industry has advanced in a few niche areas such as certain light armored vehicles and anti-tank missiles. The country’s weaponry and other military equipment are in high demand in many countries throughout the world, from the United States to China, and from Sweden to Zambia.

grenade ethiopia

Ethiopia

A report released by Agence France-Presse (AFP) confirms that Ethiopia is home to perhaps one of the most powerful armies in Africa. Though weapon production began in the 1800s under Emperor Tewondros, today, the country also has a pretty lucrative industry pertaining to weapon production. Ethiopia produces small arms, rifles and grenades propelled by rockets. According to the AFP report, Ethiopia has a defense budget of roughly $400 million dollars.

Egyptian-Aircraft--weapons africa

 

Egypt

According to an article composed by Joe Stork, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division, Egypt has been producing its own arms since the 1820s. Their products included “warships, artillery, rifles, bombs and ammunition.” And, while the country did see a temporary decline in weapon production, Egypt’s arms production began to rise after the second World War. The government established ammunition and small arms companies, as well as aircraft factories. Today, Egypt is one of the top weapon producers on the continent of Africa.

weapons africa

Ghana

According to a 2013 essay entitled “History Of Locally Manufactured Weapons In Ghana History Essay,” Ghana has been producing weapons for hundreds of years. Pistols, shotguns and single-barrel guns are locally manufactured and “each of the 10 regions in Ghana houses gun-manufacturing workshops.” The Suame-Magazine area of Kumasi, located in the Ashanti region, is perhaps “one of the most established gun-manufacturing centers in Ghana.”

handgun pistol weapons

Kenya

Established in 1997, the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation (KOFC), under the Ministry of State for Defense, is a corporation that manufactures small arms. In late 2012, South African company Osprea Logistics announced it was setting up a facility to assemble Mamba Mk 5 armored personnel carriers in Kenya, and aims to produce 100 in its first year of operation.

ak 47 nigeria weapons

Nigeria

Nigeria manufactured weapons as early as the 1960s, due to the establishment of the DefenseIndustries Corporation (DIC). In fact, Nigeria developed its own version of the Automatic Kalashnikov 47 (AK47). The Director General of the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) stated that “the Nigerian new rifle was named after Obasanjo because the president was the second sitting Head of State to visit DICON after General Yakubu Gowon.”

cannon-weapons sudan

Sudan

According to a report released by gunpolicy.org, Sudan established “at least three weapons factories outside of Khartoum.” While production began in 1959, the country saw an increase in production after the establishment of the Military Industry Corporation (MIC) in 1993. According to a 2014 article published by Radio Dabanga, the MIC produces ammunition, conventional weapons, armored vehicles and main battle tanks. The corporations also provides vehicles.

bullets weapons tanzania rounds

Tanzania

As early as the 4th century AD, the  people  in what is now called Tanzania specialized in producing tools and weapons. Today, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’sPolicy Paper No. 30, Tanzania’s Mzinga Corporation “reportedly had an annual production capacity of 7 million rounds.” In addition, a report released by gunpolicy.org states that the country “has small arms ammunition factories.”

armored vehicle weapons namibia

Namibia

In Namibia, Windhoeker MaschinenFabrik (WMF), under the Namibian Defense Force, “has manufactured small numbers of wheeled light-armored vehicles since 1977, including some for export,” according to Policy Pap No. 30. A post on wmf.com.na confirms that the company is“operating as a wholly owned commercial arm and subsidiary of the August 26 Holding Company (Pty) Ltd, an undertaking of the Ministry of Defense.”

uganda weapons reminghton rifles

Uganda

According to research conducted by The Library of Congress, between 1870 and 1899, the king of Bunyoro, Kabarega, constructed a powerful army through the use of contemporary weapons, such as Remington rifles, percussion muskets and breech and muzzle loaders. The report fromgunpolicy.orgexpresses that today, Uganda “also has small arms ammunition factories.” There are at least three weapon manufacturers in the country.

Zimbabwe-Guns manufacture bullets

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe began producing some of its own weapons as early as World War II. Thegunpolicy.orgreports states that the Zimbabwe Defense Industry (ZDI), established by the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front government in 1985, “erected two arms production factories with a dual status of being both a private company and a state enterprise.”

Source: Atlanta Black Star

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