ADF

CLUES The ruins of this ancient city include obelisks, stone pillars, royal tombs and castles. The kingdom, at the crossroads of Africa, Arabia and the Greco-Roman world, once was the most powerful state between Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire. Emperors continued to be crowned in the city long after its political decline in the 10th century. A church in the region is said to hold the biblical Ark of the Covenant. ANSWER  The ancient city of Aksum, northern Ethiopia

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Africa draws just 5 percent of the world’s tourists despite boasting attractions ranging from the Great Pyramids and Victoria Falls to wildlife safaris and endless strips of pristine beaches. But the continent’s huge potential can be unlocked by eco-tourism, cultural experiences, domestic travel and political stability, said experts at an African tourism conference in Cape Town, South Africa. “When you look at the success stories, it’s those countries who’ve embraced trends,” said the African Tourism Association’s managing director, Naledi Khabo. “When you look at some countries which have made sustainability a focal point, like Tanzania or Rwanda, they’re…

U.S. Africa Command Staff There was a time when a military commander could comfortably say, “I’m not a computer person” or “I don’t really use the internet.” That attitude is no longer an option. Being a security professional today means keeping up with threats that lurk in cyberspace. Foreign adversaries can attack weapon systems, put troops’ lives in danger and create chaos on networks that support railways, water distribution and electricity. Being knowledgeable about cyber issues is not only about threats. It means being comfortable using computers to access information and communicate. Technology doesn’t just support the modern defense mission;…

Africa, like the rest of the world, is embracing its digital future. African leaders are committed to boosting the digital economy and the digitalization of strategic sectors such as education, health, entrepreneurship, employment, peace and security, and good governance by facilitating the delivery of public services and creating more interactions between governments and citizens. On the continent there are many successful digital experiences that need to be replicated in other countries to promote economic growth and social development. However, the more digitalized and connected our economy, the more important it becomes to secure our systems in cyberspace. African countries today…

BBC NEWS AT BBC.CO.UK/NEWS In Uganda’s grasshopper season, the insects are seen as a nutritious delicacy — either boiled or deep-fried. They are so popular that some people are worried about declining harvests. “When the season starts, we watch the cycle of the moon and prepare. [They tend to come out at full moon]. We also keep hoping for rain,” said Quraish Katongole, one of Uganda’s most experienced grasshopper trappers. “The larger numbers appear when it has rained.”  His workers set up barrels at a trapping site near Masaka town. As it grows darker, the slim-bodied insects swarm around the…

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE An army of humans laid waste to an alien colony as South African video game maker Simon Spreckley enthusiastically controlled the action using his phone’s touch screen. “The penetration of mobile devices in Africa is huge. People often have two or three phones, which is pretty crazy,” said Spreckley, 40. “So that’s one of the big pluses and why we are trying to do this,” he said, promoting Invasion Day, which will likely launch on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play platform in 2019. Many other African developers also are opting to tailor games for mobile devices instead…

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Boxes of green bananas are shifted one by one from a stack of crates into a refrigerated shipping container in Caxito, Angola. Stamped “From Angola, with Love,” the fruit is shipped to consumers 6,000 kilometers away and is part of Luanda’s drive to diversify its economy and wean itself from oil dependence. Novagrolider, a private company, produces several dozen metric tons of bananas weekly for shipment to Portugal. “We have two grades: domestic and export,” said supervisor Edwin Andres Luis Campos. “Domestic will be sold here in Angolan supermarkets in about four or five days. Export will be…

As Africa Closes the Digital Divide, It Must Improve Cyber Security ADF STAFF Internet Penetration Internet penetration in Africa lags behind much of the world, but the continent is catching up fast. Nations are investing heavily in fiber optic cables and other means to bring the internet to people of all income levels. Between 2017 and 2018, Africa achieved 20 percent growth in internet access, the fastest growth rate in the world. In Benin, Mozambique, Niger and Sierra Leone, the number of internet users more than doubled during that time. Today, 52 African countries are connected to submarine internet cables…

Militaries are Launching Cyber Commands, but Their Role is Still Being Debated ADF STAFF Throughout history, technological advances and new discoveries have led to military reorganization. Eight years after the first flight, planes flew in combat in World War I. Shortly thereafter, the first air forces were formed. Similarly, the advent of submarines led to underwater warfare, and space travel has spurred discussions on how to defend space.  Militaries have always adapted to changing threats. Their latest challenge is cyberspace.   Militaries typically are charged with defending the nation against foreign threats while police and other security agencies handle domestic…

Ghana’s Cyber Security Advisor Says the Country is Preparing for the Opportunities and Threats of a Digital World Since 2017, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako has served as the national cyber security advisor to the government of Ghana. He is also the founder of e-Crime Bureau, a pan-African cyber security and digital forensics company. E-Crime Bureau has worked with police, military, and private and public institutions across the continent. It formed the first cyber security and digital forensics lab in West Africa. This interview has been edited to fit this format. ADF: In your current role as national cyber security advisor, you’re…