Revealed: Cameroon invested more than 200 billion FCFA in the purchase of arms ⁰

The National Institute for Peace in Stockholm (SIPRI) has published a report that Cameroon invested more than 200 billion CFA francs in the purchase of arms in 2016. The release also indicated that Cameroon ranks 6^th of the 10 African countries that have bought the most heavy weapons in Africa between 2012 and 2016.

While Cameroon’s military spending has been on an upward trend since 1988, the report further pointed out the war against the Nigerian Islamic, Boko Haram sect was the main cause of the exponential increase in military spending. The exactions of these Islamist fighters in the Far North region of Cameroon have already claimed the lives of more than 1500 people including women and children.

Cameroon’s military spending reached up to 209 billion CFA francs in 2015, against 199 billion CFA francs in 2013. However, the country still remains a small importer of heavy weapons, compared to Algeria, which head the list of the largest African importer over the period 2012-2016. The purchase of heavy weapons in Africa during the period 2012-2016 reportedly decreased by 6.6%. Worldwide, the top 5 exporters of military hardware are dominated by the United States, followed by Russia, China, France and Germany.

CIR