• UN urges shift from arms to human development in Africa

• Military spending rises, deepening poverty and fiscal strain

• Region needs $70B annually to meet development goals

Sub-Saharan Africa needs to mobilize an estimated $70 billion per year to meet its human development needs, a challenge exacerbated by rising military spending, according to a new United Nations report.

The U.N. report, "The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future," warns that increased military expenditures heighten economic vulnerability by reducing fiscal space for health, education, and social welfare. "Governments are already loosening fiscal safeguards to accommodate military expenditure, a move that risks crowding out financial resources for development and heightening the risk of economic insecurity," the report states.

In countries affected by conflict, "rising military expenditure undermines development, heightens insecurity and diverts critical resources away from investments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," the organization noted. On average, countries involved in high-intensity conflicts experience a 50% decline in GDP growth and a 30% increase in inflation.

Global Trend, Local Impact

While Africa accounts for nearly a quarter of U.N. member states and 20% of the world's population, it contributes only 1.9% of global military spending. However, persistent conflicts in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa have led to increased spending in several countries, including Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Kenya.

According to 2024 data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Africa's cumulative military budgets reached $52.1 billion in 2024, a 3% increase from the previous year. The U.N. highlights the concerning impact of these expenditures on human development in Africa, noting that life expectancy has declined in countries like the Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan.

The number of people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has risen from 468 million in 2015 to 587 million in 2025. The region's Human Development Index (HDI) remains low, with an average of 0.568 in 2023, according to the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). Furthermore, international development aid to the continent decreased by 7% between 2022 and 2023, adding to budgetary pressures.

Globally, military spending is at a record high. Over the past decade, $21.9 trillion has been spent, resources that could have been used to transform development prospects. In 2024, military budgets peaked at $2.7 trillion, continuing a ten-year streak of uninterrupted growth. The U.N. report indicates that "Global uncertainty is already at its highest level since the end of the cold war. Additional uncertainty stemming from increased military expenditure is likely to deter investment, threatening potential growth, decent employment, public revenues and social spending."

This trend puts additional pressure on public finances already strained by massive debt. Global debt, which is now at an all-time high, could reach 100% of global GDP by 2030.

In response to these challenges, several initiatives have been launched. On a continental level, the African Union has adopted a post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) policy aimed at strengthening governance, restoring security, revitalizing economies, and promoting transitional justice. At the national level, countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo have established reconciliation mechanisms, such as truth commissions and ex-combatant reintegration programs, to restore social cohesion.

Ultimately, the U.N. calls for a rebalancing of priorities, urging a shift toward diplomacy, cooperation, and disarmament. The organization emphasizes that sustainable and inclusive development must be placed at the center of security strategies as the most effective bulwark against conflict.

Charlène N’dimon