ADF

For years, nations have searched for ways to secure porous borders against traffickers moving arms, drugs and people from one country to another. A growing number of experts believe that artificial intelligence (AI) can help security professionals solve those problems. “The issue of artificial intelligence becomes very much fundamental, particularly in terms of risk management and in terms of enhancing effective border management,” South Africa’s Commissioner of Border Security Michael Masiapato said in a recent video statement. South Africa has joined Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Tunisia in deploying advanced technology, such as AI and drones, to enhance border security.  South…

When Angolan President João Lourenço visited New Delhi in early May, it marked a realignment of the country’s foreign policy priorities. After meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries signed memoranda of understanding in areas such as medical, agricultural and cultural cooperation.  The agreements were viewed not only as a move by Angola toward India but also away from China.  “At the heart of Luanda’s growing partnership with New Delhi lies Angola’s strategic intent to hedge against its excessive dependence on China,” wrote Samir Bhattacharya, an associate fellow at Observer Research Foundation, or ORF, a nonpartisan, independent global…

Regardless of whether Awamo Mitterrand was tricked or coerced into enlisting in the Russian Army, he was sent to the front lines in Ukraine and killed in battle on February 26, his body abandoned by the Russians in a forest. CamerounWeb, a news site, published the report in March along with an editorial comment: “This is the umpteenth Cameroonian to die in the prime of life in the Russian army. This situation should be a wake-up call for young Cameroonians who decide to accept this poisoned opportunity.” A steady stream of posts have appeared on websites and social media platforms…

Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have begun using armed drones and roadside bombs as violence surges in northeast Nigeria. At least 22 people were killed and several others wounded in two attacks in Borno and Adamawa states over three days in late April. In Borno’s Gwoza area, militants killed 10 civilians a day after killing two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. “They went to a nearby bush in search of firewood on Saturday when the boys [insurgents] ambushed them and killed ten and left two with life-threatening injuries,” said Mohammed Shehu Timta, the region’s…

Months after M23 rebels launched an offensive and seized the two largest cities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, eyewitnesses, the United Nations and human rights groups are accusing the militants of a host of possible war crimes. M23’s efforts to consolidate control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, included the executions of at least 21 civilians, according to nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW). The group said it received credible reports of dozens of more killings. “The M23’s brutal control over Goma has created a climate of fear among those perceived to be allied to the…

The Islamic State group in Mozambique (ISM) is expanding its area of operations and its tactics. In the past year, the terrorists have stretched out from their strongholds around the towns of Macomia, Mocímboa da Praia and Muidumbe in northeast Cabo Delgado province, attacking or being seen in 14 of the province’s 15 districts. ISM’s surge of recent attacks also included neighboring Niassa province to the west of Cabo Delgado. Experts say a series of high-profile attacks underscored the group’s resurgence and growing confidence while achieving a goal of raising its profile. Two deadly raids on tourist wildlife sites in…

As peacekeeping missions are scaled back or shut down in Africa, the Rwanda Defence Force  (RDF) is gaining a reputation for stepping in to effectively fill security gaps. In the Central African Republic, the RDF since 2020 has protected high-ranking officials from rebel groups, trained young Central African Soldiers and deployed more than 2,000 forces to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country. Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga, RDF spokesman, said the CAR’s security situation is now “relatively calm.” “We successfully repelled the rebels,” Rwivanga told The Africa Report. “We are protecting the president, the city of Bangui and a…

Recent drone attacks in Darfur and Port Sudan were part of rising tensions between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they try to influence the outcome of Sudanese war, according to experts. Turkey has provided the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with Bayraktar TB2 drones and Turkish operators. The UAE repeatedly has denied backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However international monitors have reported Emirati aircraft arriving at a Darfur airstrip. They also say materiel is being smuggled in from an UAE-built airstrip in Chad, Emirati air bases in Uganda and Somalia’s Puntland region, and from UAE-backed forces…

The security challenges facing the African continent in the 21st century are too much for any nation to tackle on its own, which makes regional cooperation and continental unity imperative for the future. That was the message Africa’s top military leaders heard repeatedly during the 2025 Africa Chiefs of Defense (ACHOD) summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, at the end of May. The conference drew representatives from 36 African nations along with their international partners for several days of frank discussions and face-to-face interactions. Attendees included leaders from Mali, Niger and Somalia — three nations that are actively engaged in fighting…

India and 10 African countries have completed a first-of-its-kind naval exercise in the Indian Ocean. The six-day drill, known as the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (Aikeyme), ended April 18. The exercise, co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defense Force, was held at Dar es Salaam. Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa also participated in the exercise, which included harbor and port phases. During Aikeyme’s opening ceremony, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania’s minister of Defense and National Service, highlighted the goal of establishing an enduring framework of maritime security, including innovation and information sharing.…