AEFJN. 2010 ‘Other African Countries with Weapons Manufacturing Capacity.’ Arms Exports and Transfers: From Sub-Saharan Africa to Sub-Saharan Africa; Table 1.5, p. 5. Brussels: Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN). 1 December

Relevant contents

Table 1.5: Weapons Manufacturing Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Countries with Known Weapons Manufacturing Capacity

Central Africa: Unknown Manufacturer on 7.62mm NATO cartridge.

Ethiopia: Ethiopia currently has small military industries.

Kenya: With assistance from FN Herstal of Belgium (1996), Kenya has domestic capacity to produce small arms and ammunition. The bullet factory's capacity is 20,000-60,000 bullets per day, while local consumption is about two million bullets per year. Kenya refuses to open up its factories for independent verification of their facilities despite ratifying the UN Arms Trade Treaty. The factory produces three types of bullets, namely, 9mm ammunition for the FN35 Browning pistol and the Sterling, Uzi or H&K MP5 submachine guns used by the armed forces; 7.62x51mm for the FNFAL and the G3, the main rifles used by the armed forces; and 5.56mm ammunition, used by the Kenya police. The factory does not have the capacity to manufacture ammunition for the AK-47, the most popular assault rifle in the region.

Nigeria: Nigeria has the domestic capacity to manufacture small arms which are similar to the AK-47 and the requisite ammunition.

Sudan: Built with assistance from the Chinese, Sudan has at least three weapons factories outside of Khartoum. There are news that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organizations, is operating a secret weapons factory in Sudan to funnel weapons to terrorist organizations in Africa and the Middle East.

Tanzania: Tanzania has small arms ammunition factories.

Uganda: Uganda also has small arms ammunition factories. It justifies it by the long-running war with rebels in the north and hostility with Sudan. Uganda refuses to open up its factories for independent verification of their facilities despite ratifying the UN Arms Trade Treaty. There are three weapons manufacturers in Uganda; the largest, Nakasongola Arms Factory, is owned by Chinese (government and private sector) interests.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe has small arms ammunition factories since the days of the Munitions Production Board of the Second World War.

In 1985 ZANU (PF) government established the Zimbabwe Defence Industry (ZDI) which erected two arms production factories with a dual status of being both a private company and a state enterprise. In 1986 NORINCO of China was awarded the contract to build a small arms ammunition factory in Zimbabwe for the ZDI. By 1990, only the Explosives Filling Plant, the Small Arms Ammunition project were built. In 1987 the French Government offered a financial package to the ZDI.

[ZANU (PF) = Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front; ZDI = Zimbabwe Defence Industries]

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