ADF

Many countries suffer from an affliction colloquially known as “sea blindness.” The phrase describes a general lack of concern about maritime security, but also the inability to monitor what is happening on the water.  Just how much activity is going on in these blind spots? In a report published in the journal Nature, researchers found that about 76% of industrial fishing vessels were “dark” at some point, meaning they were not broadcasting their location or were not tracked by public monitoring systems. The same report found that nearly 30% of energy and transportation vessel movement was not tracked.   The…

Mauritius Police Force and National Coast Guard Police Sgt. Thomas Shane climbs a hook ladder for visit, board, search and seizure training during Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 (CE25) in Port Louis, Mauritius, on February 12, 2025. The event is one of three regional Express series exercises sponsored by U.S. Africa Command. The exercises provide collaborative opportunities for African nation security forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns. CE25 focused training in Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania, but information sharing and coordination took place across nine maritime operation centers throughout the region. Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean,…

The sun beat down upon the pristine, white deck of the Galaxy Leader vehicle carrier as it steamed through the Red Sea about 80 kilometers west of Yemen’s port of Hodeidah on November 19, 2023.  The journey surely had the 25 international crew members on edge. Houthi rebels just weeks earlier had begun their lawless assault on global shipping. The Galaxy Leader crew’s worst fears were realized when a charging Mi-171Sh helicopter hovered over the 189-meter ship and deposited several masked gunmen onto the deck. They rushed unchallenged to the bridge and ordered crew members there to get on the…

Africa has a vast and resource-rich coastline, but its 37 coastal nations often struggle to find the resources to patrol and protect it. The continent’s coastline, which stretches 40,000 kilometers, represents more than 11% of the world’s total. The Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Guinea, the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea are rich in natural resources and offer critical pathways in global shipping. But its marine access also is a security problem, with criminals taking advantage of its expanses. Robbery, hijacking and piracy disrupt shipping lanes and threaten global trade. Illegal fishing devastates coastal economies, depletes fish stocks…

Attacks in the Red Sea by Houthi militia have disrupted world trade on an enormous scale. The terrorists have breached sea lanes through the Gulf of Aden to the Indian Ocean. They have forced ships to alter their courses, adding as much as two weeks and thousands of nautical miles to shipping routes. The Houthis have hit more than 100 ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. The attacks by the Yemen-based Houthi militia have exposed the problems 37 African coastal countries face in providing security to their vast coastlines and maritime economic zones. Beyond terrorism,…

Morocco has deployed the first of its new Apache AH-64E helicopters during a military training exercise with the United States. The helicopters saw their first action in exercise African Lion in May 2025. The state-of-the-art helicopters, acquired from the U.S., are part of an order for 24 units, of which six are already operational, according to The Africa Report. Twenty-four Moroccan military personnel have been trained under a program offered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Boeing is building the new Moroccan Apaches under a contract with the U.S. Army through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales process. The…

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…