ADF

Egypt reportedly is concluding a deal with South Korea for up to 100 FA-50 light combat aircraft. The agreement also could include a significant transfer of technology. An official from jet manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said the procurement would “advance the Egyptian aviation industry and strengthen strategic partnerships across Africa and the Middle East,” according to Groupe ADIT, an intelligence company. The fighter, which has 70% commonality with the classic Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet, likely would replace aging Alpha Jets and K-8E trainers. Egypt could start by ordering a first batch of 36 aircraft worth about $1 billion…

Mozambique’s Air Force has taken delivery of an Airbus C-295W as it continues to expand its transport fleet. Mozambique’s Air Force acquired a refurbished Casa medium-range CN-235M and a short-range Let-410 turbojet from South Africa’s Paramount Group in late 2022. Air Force officials at the time of delivery said the two aircraft would be used to transport cargo and troops and deploy special forces and paratroopers. Paramount supplied the aircraft as well as training and maintenance, according to defenceWeb. The company also has delivered several refurbished helicopters to Mozambique and three Mwari multirole aircraft. These have been used in northern…

The Nigerian military unveiled its first domestically produced attack drone, marking what it calls a major milestone in the continent’s ability to develop and manufacture its own defense technology.  Built in collaboration with Nigerian tech company Briech UAS, the drone was showcased at the company’s headquarters in Abuja in April 2025. Though technical specifications were not released, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa emphasized that the drone will be used in the country’s battle against terrorists and gives Nigeria a badly needed domestic source for the weapons. “By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces its dependence on foreign resources,…

Businesses in East Africa are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to make their companies operate faster and more efficiently and to uncover new opportunities.  However, Brian Kiplagat, head of cybersecurity at NTT DATA East Africa, is warning that AI is also supercharging attacks.  “We’re seeing a surge in cyberattacks where AI is used to identify and exploit vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed,” Kiplagat told a roundtable meeting of industry leaders in Nairobi, according to the website CIO Africa. “Many organisations have strong on-premise controls but struggle with visibility and governance in cloud and remote work environments. This exposes critical gaps that…

Nearly three decades after Egypt launched its first satellite into orbit, the African Space Agency opened its doors in Cairo with a mission to expand the continent’s presence beyond Earth. “Space activities across the continent have been very fragmented,” said Meshack Kinyua, the African Union’s space applications training officer. “The [agency] … places all African Union members on an equal footing regarding access to gathered data based on their needs.” At least 21 African nations have space programs. Most of those have started during the past 25 years as the cost of developing and launching satellites dropped. Since Egypt launched…

The Senegalese Armed Forces is taking aim at illegal logging and trafficking to slow the theft of its precious natural resources.  In May 2025, it announced that Operation Faxass in Military Zone 6 had seized 344 trunks of illegally harvested timber taken from the forests of Pata and Guimara. The operation’s name means “theft” in Wolof. “The army is demonstrating its determination to curb this traffic, which fuels a lucrative cross-border trade, often orchestrated by well-organized networks operating between Senegal and Gambia,” the news website Dakaractu reported. “Operation FAXASS, beyond its immediate effects, sends a clear message: the forests will…

In a symbolically important display, Libya’s Criminal Investigation Department destroyed 2 tons of ordnance, explosives and other war remnants collected from the Al-Heera area.  The move is part of an effort to restore safety to the country after years of conflict. Combatants including mercenaries from Russia’s notorious Wagner Group placed land mines and improvised explosive devices in civilian areas they occupied.  Between 2020 and 2025, these types of explosives killed at least 125 people and injured more than 300 people in Libya. “Each incident carries immense human and psychological weight,” said Fatma Zourrig, head of the Mine Action Programme for…

Nigerian military engineers returned a twin-engine turboprop Dornier DO-228 to the air after it had been grounded for 23 years.  Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Nigeria’s chief of air staff, commended the efforts of five engineers and 40 technicians who worked for four months on the project. “It is not just an operational gain, it is a testament to the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) commitment to self-reliance and resource optimization,” he said.  The plane previously was operated by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and had remained unused at a facility in Kaduna since 2001. The NAF now plans to…

The Economic Community of West African States has observed its 50th anniversary as one of the continent’s most successful economic blocs and a major force in regional cooperation and peacekeeping. The community, known as ECOWAS, observed its anniversary in mid-2025. Sixteen member states established it in 1975.  Within three years of its founding, the bloc’s mandates were expanded to encompass political and security objectives. These additions were necessary as West African countries adapted to shifting socioeconomic and security challenges, which have come to include terrorism threats.  “We are confronting the greatest challenges we face today, terrorism, climate change and unconstitutional…

After a meeting in Tanzania, the African Union Council has recommended improving relations with regional economic communities, strengthening its prevention mechanisms and refining its mediation tools. The council focused on promoting and defending AU shared values and established instruments for guaranteeing continental peace, security and stability. The three-day session in Arusha included orientation for new members of the Peace and Security Council. Nigerian Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, emphasized the philosophy of “African solutions to African problems,” underscoring the council’s pivotal role in advancing the AU’s peace agenda. The council also discussed Agenda 2063,…