Burkina Faso missile test highlights China’s growing military export foothold

Burkina Faso has displayed what observers identify as a Chinese Sky Dragon 30 surface-to-air missile, offering a new sign of China’s expanding role in the military equipment market of the central Sahel.

Footage released by the Burkinabe president’s office showed several missiles launching from a mobile vehicle. A search radar vehicle matching the system also appeared in the video. The footage formed part of a documentary series marking the fourth anniversary of military leader Ibrahim Traoré’s time in power.

The president’s office did not say when the tests took place. The landlocked country had not previously shown the short-to-medium-range missile system publicly, according to the report.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military commentator and former People’s Liberation Army instructor, said countries such as Burkina Faso had previously depended heavily on France and the United States. He said they now wanted to move away from that dependence, pursue an independent foreign policy and arm themselves.

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However, they now want to break free from this dependence on Western powers, adopting an independent foreign policy while choosing self-armament.