ADF

ADF STAFF In 2016, Rwanda became the first nation in the world to use drones to deliver medicine and blood samples. Now, the country uses artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently schedule the drones’ pickups and deliveries. In many ways, Africa is breaking new ground in AI use. In South Africa, drones monitor weeds, while in Mauritius, computers crunch health data for better patient outcomes. In Nairobi, surveillance systems work to control chaotic city traffic. Ghanaian cashew farmers use drones to detect tree diseases. In South Africa, a company is digitizing African languages so AI-powered software such as Google Translate can…

The Nigerian Navy pursued the oil tanker MT Heroic Idun into the Gulf of Guinea. Navy officials suspected the ship of stealing oil from a Port Harcourt terminal. The tanker’s crew, mistaking the approaching naval patrol boat for pirates on that day in August 2022, reported themselves under attack and fled. Using the tools of the Yaoundé Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS), Nigerian authorities contacted their counterparts in Equatorial Guinea, who impounded the ship when it entered their waters and held the crew as suspected thieves. Although the crew eventually was acquitted of wrongdoing, the incident illustrates how African nations…

Across the continent, military forces stalk insurgents and violent extremists, peering through range finders and binoculars, rifle scopes and night vision goggles. In some battle spaces, drones search from the sky for targets. The tactics work to an extent, but Soldiers face constant threats when they don’t have a clear view of the battlefield. Drones can be heard, then seen, then shot down or avoided. One type of technology, however, takes operators way above the fray, collecting views of everything from severe weather to infrastructure needs and troop movements. Countries across Africa are leaning into satellite and space technology to…

A Somali National Army Soldier gently brushes away dirt during a course on how to detect improvised explosive devices at the General Dhagabadan Training Centre in Mogadishu in March 2024. More than 30 years of conflict have left Somalia with more than 1 million land mines and unexploded ordnance. At least 1,700 people have died from the blasts, and many more are permanently scarred or disabled. A majority of the victims are civilians. Somalia has worked with international partners to train experts in detecting and removing mines, ordnance and IEDs. Security personnel also are deploying dogs capable of sniffing out…

Ghana is known for its history of strong civilian government, adherence to democratic principles, and international engagement regionally and around the world. It serves as an island of stability in West Africa, a region beset by military coups and violent extremism. It is not, however, immune from some of the stressors faced by its neighbors, especially regarding disinformation. Malign influencers have used no fewer than 72 campaigns to obfuscate, twist and distort reality in West Africa, according to a March 2024 Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) report. Ghana is the victim of at least five of these efforts perpetrated…

ADF STAFF Modern combat training goes something like this: On the battlefield, Soldiers are briefed on the mission’s objective. They carry real weapons, often loaded with blank ammo. Coded laser devices attached to gun barrels “fire” when the trigger is pulled. Soldiers wear sensors on their helmets and vests that detect when a laser from the fired weapon hits them. They also carry simulated anti-tank weapons and laser hand grenades. “In the case of weapons with electronic sights, such as tanks and anti-tank weapons, virtual elements can already be incorporated as part of training,” Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defense…

CMDR. OWONAM EQUERE, NIGERIAN NAVY Africa has witnessed a troubling surge in coups d’état, reminiscent of the early postcolonial decades when they were common. From 2020 to 2023, there were nine successful military coups in Africa, with six taking place in West Africa: two in Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), one in Guinea (September 2021), two in Burkina Faso (January 2022 and September 2022), and one in Niger (July 2023). Within the period, reports of attempted coups in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger and Sierra Leone show the potential for further political instability. West Africa faces multiple security challenges…

DEFENCEWEB  The Nigerian Air Force was expected to take delivery of its first M-346 combat planes by the end of 2024 from Italy’s Leonardo. The air force is acquiring 24 M-346 fighter aircraft, a significant step in its “ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet as well as bolster its operation effectiveness,” it said. The jets are expected to be delivered in four groups of six each. The deal was announced in 2022. A Leonardo official said details on pilot and technician training still needed to be worked out. There is a 25-year binding agreement for Leonardo to support maintenance. Nigerian…

DEFENCEWEB South Africa’s Milkor company is partnering with Germany’s Aerodata AG to develop a new specialized platform for maritime surveillance, the AeroForce 380, which is based on the Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle. This medium altitude long endurance drone, tailored specifically for maritime surveillance and coast guard missions, can fly as high as 9,000 meters. It has enhancements that allow it to operate below 1,000 meters, which is ideal for maritime surveillance operations.  The drone can fly for up to 35 hours, ensuring extended mission coverage and increased operational efficiency, Milkor said. It can carry up to 250 kilograms. It…

DEFENCEWEB African military spending rose by 22% between 2022 and 2023, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo seeing the biggest percentage increase to its military budget globally at 105% as the country battled multiple security threats. The DRC has been in protracted conflicts, with an estimated 200 militias and armed groups operating in the region, and Red Tabara rebels aiming to destabilize neighboring Burundi. In 2023, the DRC’s military spending more than doubled to reach $794 million. The 2023 increase coincided with growing tensions with Rwanda and a move by the government to strengthen the DRC’s armed forces after…