Africa Defense Forum - Africa Defense Forum

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The group of the world’s 20 leading economies has welcomed the African Union as a permanent member, a powerful acknowledgement of Africa as its 54 countries seek a more important role on the global stage.…

ADF STAFF | Photos by AFP/Getty Images Omdurman National Bank (ONB) ranks among Sudan’s largest financial institutions. It has branches across most of the country and was the first Sudanese bank to introduce ATMs. Founded in 1993, the…

ADF STAFF With great fanfare, Kenya launched its upgraded e-Citizen digital platform in 2023. The system offers access to 5,000 government services from more than 100 ministries and agencies, marking a leap forward in the ability of…

During more than 30 years in the military, Maj. Gen. Gyane has held key positions in the Ghana Armed Forces, including commanding officer Base Workshop, Burma Camp; commanding officer Army Headquarters; director of Army Logistics; acting…

ADF STAFF Border regions tend to be places of possibility and peril. They are where cultures meet. Where trade –– both legal and illegal –– thrives. Where journeys begin or end. Because they often are far from national capitals,…

ADF STAFF | Photos by afp/getty images As  Senegalese citizens marked the 64th anniversary of their nation’s independence, children embraced the spirit of the day. One boy donned a cap and miniature matching uniform before joining…

LT. CMDR. DJAIBLOND DOMINIQUE-YOHANN KOUAKOU, CÔTE D’IVOIRE NATIONAL NAVY Coastal countries in Africa face a variety of maritime threats. These include trafficking; illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; illegal…

ADF staff | photos by afp/getty images When Interpol coordinated international raids under Operation Jackal, it targeted Black Axe, a Nigeria-based organized crime group. In the 2022 sweep, authorities arrested 75 people, searched 49…

ADF STAFF Despite an amazing array of natural resources, the Central African Republic (CAR) has endured years of civil war, poor governance and corruption. Traffickers, terrorists, mercenaries and thieves are stealing its wealth of…

ADF STAFF For years, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been plagued by international gangs slaughtering and selling parts from endangered animals.  “The DRC, which shares borders with nine countries, serves as an…