ADF

The al-Qaida-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin carried out a sweeping coordinated attack on seven military locations in western Mali, including near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania, in mid-2025. The terrorist group, better known as JNIM, was responsible for a surge in attacks at that time across several West African nations, especially Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The group has become a major force in regional instability and was used as justification for military coups in the three Sahel countries over the past five years. JNIM is just one of Middle East-based al-Qaida’s terrorist franchises in Africa and elsewhere. The…

In what has been described as a first-of-its-kind operation targeting how crime finances terrorism, authorities working with Interpol and Afripol arrested 83 people across six African countries. Officials designed Operation Catalyst, disclosed in late 2025, to identify and disrupt financial networks connected to terrorism. Interpol made 21 arrests on terrorism-related crimes, 28 arrests for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 for cyber-related scams, and 18 for illegal use of cryptocurrencies. Interpol noted that tracking terrorist financing is a particularly complex task involving crimes such as fraud, kidnapping for ransom, illegal commerce, online scams, Ponzi schemes and misuse of crypto assets. …

Kenya’s inventory of armored vehicles continues to grow with its acquisition of new Springbuck armored personnel carriers from South Africa and M1117 armored security vehicles from the United States. Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen commissioned the vehicles at the General Service Unit Headquarters in Ruaraka. Murkomen said the vehicles were part of the government’s modernization program that has seen a major decrease in crime, particularly in the northern parts of the country, with banditry dropping by 70%, defenceWeb reported. The new vehicles will be deployed to address cattle rustling, banditry and terrorism. The Springbuck Standard Duty models have ballistic…

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya is calling on African nations to take the lead in making sure that artificial intelligence improves the lives of citizens and does not harm them.  She spoke at the 2025 Africa Regional workshop on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) in Nairobi, which brought together delegates and military personnel from 17 countries.  “We must ensure that AI enhances our collective security while upholding international humanitarian law and protecting civilian populations,” she told attendees.  The meeting aimed to consolidate best practices, advance regulatory and ethical frameworks for AI in…

Senegal has begun building West Africa’s first optical astronomical observatory near Thies.  The observatory, overseen by the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies, will add to the country’s growing reputation as a leader in space research, innovation and training. It will include a 600 mm optical telescope designed for precision observation and the study of celestial phenomena, and four Celestron telescopes with deep-sky research and astrophotography capability.  Senegal’s space sector leaders say it’s part of a national push to open new possibilities and position the country to compete in the high-tech, global economy.  “We want the young generations not only to…

Ethiopia and Nigeria are joining forces to develop a fleet of African-made aerial drones capable of civilian and military applications. In July 2025, Ethiopian officials hosted members of the Nigerian Air Force on tours of Ethiopia’s aircraft manufacturing and maintenance facilities. Nigeria has promised the Ethiopians a reciprocal visit focused on Nigeria’s military training institutions. The visits are the latest step toward increasing the number of indigenous African unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in a market flooded by technology imported from China, Iran and Turkey.  By pooling resources, two of the continent’s most experienced dronemakers and users can develop a homegrown…

Senegalese and Mauritanian armed forces have intensified joint security operations along their shared border in response to growing terrorism in the region.  Both militaries patrolled a river covering several localities between Bakel-Aroundou and Diougountourou on the Malian border in October 2025, according to Senegal’s Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Armed Forces (DIRPA). This comes after a September joint ground patrol in the same area. The countries, separated by the Senegal River, have established closer collaboration as terror groups in western Mali try to exploit weaknesses and push toward the coast. In July 2025, the terror group Jama’at…

Somalia has unveiled a national strategy designed to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the weapon of choice for terror group al-Shabaab. The effort has been in the works since 2023, when experts conducted a baseline assessment of the country’s C-IED capabilities. The strategy, announced at a September 2025 event in Mogadishu, provides a framework for adding more explosive ordnance disposal units to the Somali National Army and improving interagency collaboration. “This is a historic milestone for our country. Never before have we had a unified, nationally owned framework to address the IED threat,” said Awes Hagi Yusuf Ahmed, Somalia’s national…

Nigeria announced plans to open an Armed Forces Museum that it says will honor its military heritage by preserving the past and promoting scholarship to guide its future.  Gen. Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s then-chief of defense staff, described the project as a landmark initiative and said it would open in 2026 on 10 acres in Abuja. “It will serve not only as a repository of military artifacts and service records but also as a hub for education, tourism and economic opportunities,” Musa said. The museum is expected to create jobs for veterans and civilians and will feature multilingual, immersive education programs…

The Mauritanian defense minister and his Czech counterpart have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in military training, defense technologies, and special forces and peacekeeping training. It includes provisions for sharing Czech expertise when needed and mutual visits, according to intelligence website Groupe ADIT. The deal also enables intelligence sharing and counterterrorism and cybersecurity cooperation. The countries will collaborate on protection against chemical, radiological, nuclear and cyber threats, ADIT reported. The pact solidifies Czechia’s commitment to training Mauritania’s armed forces for two years. The collaboration, supported by NATO, builds on a growing relationship that Czech President Petr Pavel initiated…