ADF

Africa has a vast and resource-rich coastline, but its 37 coastal nations often struggle to find the resources to patrol and protect it. The continent’s coastline, which stretches 40,000 kilometers, represents more than 11% of the world’s total. The Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Guinea, the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea are rich in natural resources and offer critical pathways in global shipping. But its marine access also is a security problem, with criminals taking advantage of its expanses. Robbery, hijacking and piracy disrupt shipping lanes and threaten global trade. Illegal fishing devastates coastal economies, depletes fish stocks…

Attacks in the Red Sea by Houthi militia have disrupted world trade on an enormous scale. The terrorists have breached sea lanes through the Gulf of Aden to the Indian Ocean. They have forced ships to alter their courses, adding as much as two weeks and thousands of nautical miles to shipping routes. The Houthis have hit more than 100 ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. The attacks by the Yemen-based Houthi militia have exposed the problems 37 African coastal countries face in providing security to their vast coastlines and maritime economic zones. Beyond terrorism,…

Morocco has deployed the first of its new Apache AH-64E helicopters during a military training exercise with the United States. The helicopters saw their first action in exercise African Lion in May 2025. The state-of-the-art helicopters, acquired from the U.S., are part of an order for 24 units, of which six are already operational, according to The Africa Report. Twenty-four Moroccan military personnel have been trained under a program offered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Boeing is building the new Moroccan Apaches under a contract with the U.S. Army through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales process. The…

Egypt reportedly is concluding a deal with South Korea for up to 100 FA-50 light combat aircraft. The agreement also could include a significant transfer of technology. An official from jet manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said the procurement would “advance the Egyptian aviation industry and strengthen strategic partnerships across Africa and the Middle East,” according to Groupe ADIT, an intelligence company. The fighter, which has 70% commonality with the classic Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet, likely would replace aging Alpha Jets and K-8E trainers. Egypt could start by ordering a first batch of 36 aircraft worth about $1 billion…

Mozambique’s Air Force has taken delivery of an Airbus C-295W as it continues to expand its transport fleet. Mozambique’s Air Force acquired a refurbished Casa medium-range CN-235M and a short-range Let-410 turbojet from South Africa’s Paramount Group in late 2022. Air Force officials at the time of delivery said the two aircraft would be used to transport cargo and troops and deploy special forces and paratroopers. Paramount supplied the aircraft as well as training and maintenance, according to defenceWeb. The company also has delivered several refurbished helicopters to Mozambique and three Mwari multirole aircraft. These have been used in northern…

The Nigerian military unveiled its first domestically produced attack drone, marking what it calls a major milestone in the continent’s ability to develop and manufacture its own defense technology.  Built in collaboration with Nigerian tech company Briech UAS, the drone was showcased at the company’s headquarters in Abuja in April 2025. Though technical specifications were not released, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa emphasized that the drone will be used in the country’s battle against terrorists and gives Nigeria a badly needed domestic source for the weapons. “By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces its dependence on foreign resources,…

Businesses in East Africa are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to make their companies operate faster and more efficiently and to uncover new opportunities.  However, Brian Kiplagat, head of cybersecurity at NTT DATA East Africa, is warning that AI is also supercharging attacks.  “We’re seeing a surge in cyberattacks where AI is used to identify and exploit vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed,” Kiplagat told a roundtable meeting of industry leaders in Nairobi, according to the website CIO Africa. “Many organisations have strong on-premise controls but struggle with visibility and governance in cloud and remote work environments. This exposes critical gaps that…

Nearly three decades after Egypt launched its first satellite into orbit, the African Space Agency opened its doors in Cairo with a mission to expand the continent’s presence beyond Earth. “Space activities across the continent have been very fragmented,” said Meshack Kinyua, the African Union’s space applications training officer. “The [agency] … places all African Union members on an equal footing regarding access to gathered data based on their needs.” At least 21 African nations have space programs. Most of those have started during the past 25 years as the cost of developing and launching satellites dropped. Since Egypt launched…

The Senegalese Armed Forces is taking aim at illegal logging and trafficking to slow the theft of its precious natural resources.  In May 2025, it announced that Operation Faxass in Military Zone 6 had seized 344 trunks of illegally harvested timber taken from the forests of Pata and Guimara. The operation’s name means “theft” in Wolof. “The army is demonstrating its determination to curb this traffic, which fuels a lucrative cross-border trade, often orchestrated by well-organized networks operating between Senegal and Gambia,” the news website Dakaractu reported. “Operation FAXASS, beyond its immediate effects, sends a clear message: the forests will…

In a symbolically important display, Libya’s Criminal Investigation Department destroyed 2 tons of ordnance, explosives and other war remnants collected from the Al-Heera area.  The move is part of an effort to restore safety to the country after years of conflict. Combatants including mercenaries from Russia’s notorious Wagner Group placed land mines and improvised explosive devices in civilian areas they occupied.  Between 2020 and 2025, these types of explosives killed at least 125 people and injured more than 300 people in Libya. “Each incident carries immense human and psychological weight,” said Fatma Zourrig, head of the Mine Action Programme for…