ADF

The Nigerian Navy marked its 69th anniversary in 2025 by commissioning three patrol ships and three AW109 Trekker helicopters at a ceremony in Apapa, Lagos. The newly commissioned ships are the NNS Shere, the NNS Faro and the NNS Ikogosi. Nigeria acquired two of the Sea Eagle-class vessels from Singapore and one from South Korea. All arrived in Nigeria in December 2024, according to defenceWeb.  The 38-meter vessels are designed to patrol Nigeria’s coastal waters up to the 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone and are capable of extended operations. Their addition is expected to significantly improve the Navy’s presence and rapid response…

South Africa has joined Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Tunisia in deploying advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence and drones, to enhance border security.  South Africa’s technology upgrade includes four quadcopter drones to monitor locations known for illegal crossings. The drones can operate around the clock and use infrared cameras to track people crossing at night. Laser range finders pinpoint the potential border crossers’ location. A 10-day trial of the technology by South Africa’s Border Management Authority resulted in a 61% increase in apprehensions of people crossing the border. Experts believe that AI can help secure porous borders against traffickers, terrorists…

Nigeria’s Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has built a rifle-armed hexacopter drone to perform surveillance and conduct precise combat strikes.  The drone, which was displayed at the African Air Forces Forum in Lagos, can climb to an altitude of 400 meters and cover 40 kilometers in 40 minutes. The name, “hexacopter,” comes from its six arms, a design that supports an array of features. The drone was made from about 70% local components, including hardware and software, reflecting a goal of self-sufficiency championed by the institute. “This is not just about building drones,” Professor M. Alimony, AFIT’s director of…

Leaders of Senegal’s Armed Forces and Agency for Space Studies (ASES) signed a memorandum establishing a strategic cooperation framework between the defense and space sectors. Leaders called the deal historic and said it is part of a trend on the continent of increasing collaboration between militaries and space agencies as countries recognize the importance of satellite technology for surveillance, secure communications and national security. “We are taking a decisive step for the future today,” Senegalese Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Gen. Mbaye Cissé said at the June 2025 signing. “This memorandum is of major strategic significance.” Established…

Ethiopia and Morocco signed a military cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening defense ties through joint training, exercises, scientific research and military health programs. The agreement establishes a joint military commission to oversee its implementation.  Ethiopia’s Defense Minister Aisha Mohammed Mussa and Abdellatif Loudiyi, Morocco’s minister in charge of the National Defense Administration signed the accord on June 17, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco.  Several weeks before the signing, Ethiopia hosted a high-level delegation of Moroccan officers at Homicho Ammunition Engineering Complex and the Ethiopian Air Force headquarters, where they were briefed on Ethiopia’s efforts to improve defense manufacturing and operational readiness.…

In a new initiative, Ghana offered college graduates the opportunity to experience what it is like to serve in the armed forces. Interested graduates can register for a six-week basic training course that will test their discipline, resilience and teamwork, “while fostering a greater appreciation of national security imperatives,” the Ghana Armed Forces said.  An initial group of 10,000 volunteers is participating in the course that began August 31, 2025, and is designed to train young Ghanaians in emergency response, security and civic responsibility. “This programme is not compulsory; it is voluntary,” then-Minister of Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said.…

The Kenya Defence Forces destroyed 6,000 illegal firearms in Ngong, Kajiado County, in an event attended by President William Ruto. This action is part of the government’s fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons that fuel banditry and intercommunal violence in parts of the country. The firearms were recovered between 2022 and 2025, with the majority voluntarily surrendered by the public through amnesty programs and community disarmament campaigns. Officials also recovered a significant number in targeted security operations. “I commend both our security agencies and responsible citizens, including religious and community leaders, whose civic-mindedness and patriotism have…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other groups have launched initiatives worth more than $140 million to strengthen trade competitiveness and market access, and improve peace and security, institutional capacity, and trade in services throughout West Africa.  The initiatives support ECOWAS in addressing security and governance challenges by focusing on four elements: improving early conflict detection, security sector reform, electoral support and inclusive peace processes. ECOWAS launched the initiatives, co-funded by the European Union, Germany and Spain, at an event at its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. It brought together more than 80 senior officials and partners from…

The African Union Peace and Security Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the South Sudan peace process and has called for renewed dialogue. Innocent Shiyo of Tanzania reiterated the collective responsibility of the council and all stakeholders to protect the achievements of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. He said that although progress has been made, “the comprehensive implementation of the agreement remains hindered by persistent political disagreements and security challenges,” the Daily News of Tanzania reported. South Sudan’s political and security landscape has continued to deteriorate since renewed violence erupted in March 2025,…

The Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique is partnered with European trainers to advance military, mechanical and technical expertise in a three-week logistics maintenance program. A mentoring and training team from the French Armed Forces in the Southern Indian Ocean Zone, headquartered on Réunion, worked with the resident European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique to manage the program for Mozambican forces, also known as FADM, defenceWeb reported. The program provided hands-on maintenance training for 30  mechanics at the Maputo military driving school. The EU mission also conducted a transport supply and management program at the school, improving the…