ADF

Nearly two years after the signing of the Pretoria Agreement that was intended to end the war in Ethiopia, fighters in Tigray remain armed and the threat of violence looms. An estimated 75,000 to 100,000 Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters carry weapons such as heavy mortars, artillery and machine guns, Amhara News Service reported. In an interview with Lualawi Media, Ethiopian Defense Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula conceded that there is no timeline for their total disarmament. “It is concerning, but what can [the government] do?” Berhanu said. Many of these armed fighters are occupying schools, which…

ADF STAFF After nearly a year under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), West Darfur has become a new front in the conflict between Sudan’s warring generals. In recent weeks, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and regional militias have scored important victories against RSF fighters, most recently retaking the community of Kulbus. The Sudanese Joint Force, formerly known as the Joint Force of Armed Struggle Movements, reports taking control of Jebel Awum near Sudan’s border with Chad. The group is allied with the SAF. The Joint Force includes Darfuri militias Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the…

ADF STAFF A regional office for innovative gender-based violence solutions in Southern Africa is in the works, according to the Zambian Defense Force (ZDF). That was just one product of a workshop in Lusaka from September 23 to October 2 that sought to boost ZDF and regional capabilities to combat gender-based violence (GBV). The ZDF hosted regional military officials in the weeklong workshop as part of its partnership with United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) to address GBV. At the event’s conclusion, ZDF Staff Sgt. Kalumbi Esther thanked participants for working to build and strengthen regional initiatives. “The knowledge and expertise…

U.S. Africa Command Staff It no longer takes an army or even traditional weapons to attack a nation. Some of the most devastating attacks can be carried out using only a computer, a mobile phone or other off-the-shelf technology.  Often called “hybrid warfare,” this category combines conventional and unconventional attacks. It includes threats such as cyberattacks, disinformation or attacks on critical national infrastructure. Some hybrid attacks are obvious, others can go undetected for years.  Perpetrators view hybrid tactics as a relatively cheap way to make a big impact. The goal is to shake the stability of the targeted country.  Russia is…

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema addressed the 12th African Land Forces Summit in Livingstone, Zambia, on April 24, 2024. The theme of the conference was “Regional Solutions to Transnational Problems.” Hichilema was the first head of state to speak at the summit since its inaugural iteration in 2010. His remarks have been edited for length and clarity. We want to express to this distinguished gathering of commanders how delighted we are that 38-plus African countries would be gathering here in our country in the days we have been here. Let me also express our delight to the choice of the theme,…

ADF STAFF The Tanzania Forest Services Agency is adding drones to the tools it uses to protect dwindling woodland areas, which are under pressure from a variety of sources. “Drone technology is important because it will help us cover a large area and leave the remainder to patrols using vehicles and motorcycles,” said Dos Santos Silayo, the agency’s commissioner for conservation. The agency announced the deployment of four new vehicles and nearly 40 motorcycles to patrol Tanzania’s forests. “We are committed to enhancing the sector by equipping you with the necessary tools and expertise to drive positive outcomes in forest…

DEFENCEWEB Kenya’s Ministry of Defence co-hosted an inaugural workshop on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military in June 2024. The Netherlands and South Korea co-hosted the two-day event in Nairobi. Delegates and military personnel from more than a dozen countries attended to hear about the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with military applications of AI. The event came about a month after the Stellenbosch University Military Academy in South Africa launched a defense AI research unit as a center of AI excellence. The workshop, the first of its kind in East Africa, was titled Regional Responsible…

ADF STAFF The 13th iteration of the East African Community’s (EAC) regional field training exercise, Ushirikiano Imara 2024, brought together regional partner nations to enhance capabilities among military, police and civilian components to respond to complex security challenges. The Rwanda Defence Forces hosted the event, whose name translates as “building strong relationships,” in June 2024. Land-based training took place at and around the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako. Rwanda hosted a maritime element in Rubavu district. EAC member nations Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda took part in the exercise. The theme was “Strengthening security sector integration and harnessing common interests…

ADF STAFF By the time Burkina Faso’s health ministry declared an epidemic of dengue fever on October 18, 2023, there already were thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was the West African country’s deadliest bout with the disease in years. Another dangerous outbreak quickly followed: a deluge of Russian disinformation.  Social media users, including many believed to be backed by the Russian government, began attacking work by Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research organization that fights mosquito-borne illnesses. The group, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has worked to…

ADF STAFF Some analysts worried that Somali pirates were staging a comeback when a Maltese-flagged merchant ship, the Ruen, was hijacked off the coast of Somalia in December 2023, marking the first successful attack on such a ship in the region in six years. Increasing piracy in the ensuing months left little doubt that Somali pirates are back and seemingly more capable than ever, launching attacks at great distances from Somalia’s coast.  There were 33 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships by Somali pirates in the first three months of 2024, an increase from 27 incidents over the…