斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Israeli-arms-transfers-to-sub

Summary of Israeli Arms Transfers to Sub-Saharan Africa

Core Content

Israel is a smaller supplier of major weapons and military equipment to sub-Saharan Africa. While its arms exports to the region are limited in volume, they have had a notable impact due to the involvement of Israeli military personnel and civilian contractors in training and the sale of small arms and light weapons (SALW), as well as intelligence and electronic systems.

Main Points

• Volume of Arms Transfers:
  Israel accounted for less than 1% of major weapons transfers to sub-Saharan Africa between 2006 and 2010. Deliveries were mainly in small numbers of artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), armoured vehicles, and patrol craft.

  • Nigeria was the largest African importer of Israeli weapons, accounting for almost 50% of Israeli deliveries to sub-Saharan states.
  • The 2006-2010 period saw deliveries to nine sub-Saharan countries: Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, and Uganda.
  • The largest confirmed arms deal was the $260 million sale of an integrated coastal surveillance system to Nigeria, including UAVs, USVs, and radars.

• Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW):

  • Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) is a key player in SALW exports to Africa.
  • IWI's products, such as the Galil and Tavor rifles, Negev machine guns, and Uzi sub-machine guns, have been reported in use by several African countries, including Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Kenya, and Equatorial Guinea.
  • Some SALW deals involved amunition from Serbian suppliers, likely for use in African countries.
  • The presence of Israeli instructors and brokers has been significant in the training and sale of SALW and other military equipment.

• Training and Brokering:

  • Israeli military personnel and companies have provided training to African armed forces, including presidential guards and special units.
  • Israeli companies and expatriates have acted as brokers in arms deals, facilitating the sale of both Israeli and non-Israeli weapons to African states.
  • There have been reports of illegal activities, such as the sale of weapons to conflict zones and involvement in international bribery cases.

• Motives and Restraints:

  • Israeli arms exports to Africa are commercially motivated, driven by the need to sustain the domestic arms industry.
  • Strategic military and economic interests are also key, especially in countering Iranian influence in the region.
  • Despite this, human rights concerns and the potential misuse of weapons have become more prominent in the decision-making process.
  • Israel has not included small arms and light weapons in UNROCA reporting, despite being one of the few Western countries that have not published regular national reports on arms exports.

• Regulation and Oversight:

  • Israeli arms exports are subject to export control laws, but information transparency is limited.
  • Israeli companies are involved in maintenance, modernization, and upgrades of military equipment, including the modernization of Kenyan and Angolan systems.
  • There are indirect links between Israeli companies and African arms deals, such as the involvement of Saymar and IMI in the development of upgrades for African military assets.

Key Information

• Major Arms Deals:

  • Nigeria (2006): $260 million integrated coastal surveillance system.
  • Angola (2006): $1 billion in contracts, including artillery and UAVs.
  • Equatorial Guinea (2008): $100 million worth of patrol craft and UAVs.

• Training Activities:

  • Equatorial Guinea (2005–2010): Training of presidential guard.
  • Uganda (2010): Training of special forces.
  • Nigeria (2009): Training of Navy special forces.
  • Guinea (2009): Training of Camara's presidential guard, despite the military coup.

• Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW):

  • IWI's Galil, Tavor, Negev, and Uzi have been observed in use by several African countries.
  • Ammunition for these weapons has been sourced from Serbia and re-exported to African states.

• Brokering and Illicit Activities:

  • Israeli companies and expatriates have acted as brokers for arms deals, including those involving non-Israeli weapons.
  • In 2010, four Israelis were indicted in the USA for international bribery in a $16 million arms deal.
  • An Israeli 'defence consultant' was also indicted for attempting to sell 6000 AK-47 rifles to Somaliland using a falsified end-user certificate.

• Impact and Concerns:

  • Israeli weapons, trainers, and brokers have had a greater impact than their numbers suggest, especially in conflict zones.
  • There are concerns about the misuse of weapons and the lack of transparency in arms trade.
  • The arms trade treaty discussions highlight the need to include smaller suppliers and training and intelligence systems in arms trade regulation.

Conclusion

Israeli arms exports to sub-Saharan Africa, while limited in volume, have had a significant influence due to the presence of Israeli military personnel and the role of Israeli companies in training and brokering. The commercial aspect remains a major driver, but there is a growing emphasis on strategic and diplomatic interests. The lack of transparency and the potential for misuse of weapons and equipment raise important concerns for arms trade regulation and oversight.