ADF

ADF STAFF As internet access spreads rapidly across the continent, cybersecurity remains an important challenge as Africa lacks online security professionals, digital literacy among the population and legislation to confront online crime. “Africa’s digital potential can’t be unleashed if the continent’s key cybersecurity challenges are not addressed,” Charmaine Houvet, senior director of government strategy and policy at Cisco Africa, wrote recently for Fast Company. With internet access across Africa projected to grow by more than 57% to 1.1 billion users by 2029, security threats will continue to increase, requiring nations to invest more in cybersecurity, experts say. “No African economy,…

ADF STAFF The Islamic State-Sahel Province (IS Sahel) is gaining territory amid a security situation that has worsened since military juntas took power in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The group is expanding its operations around the Sahel after the drawdown of Western troops from the region and as al-Qaida-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) ceded vast pockets of territory near the border between Mali and Niger. The two groups have fought each another in the past. “There is a huge security vacuum after the withdrawal of the French and American military” from the region, Shaantanu Shankar, of the Economist…

ADF STAFF Rwanda’s first-ever Marburg virus outbreak was brought under control quickly and produced substantially fewer deaths than outbreaks elsewhere, in part thanks to the government’s rapid, well-organized response, according to observers. “We’re pleased to see that there have been no new cases in the past six days, and we hope that remains the case,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Kigali on October 20. “But we are dealing with one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, and continued vigilance is essential.” When Rwanda’s Marburg outbreak began in late September, the government launched its…

ADF STAFF In a recently released video, a member of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) displays an empty crate that once held 120 mm thermobaric mortar shells. He points out the origin of the munitions, stamped with an address on the top: United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Joint Logistics Command, Abu Dhabi. As its devastating civil war drags on, Sudanese officials continue to blame the UAE for what they say is critical clandestine support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SAF is sharing its evidence: a variety of UAE weapons systems, ammunition, vehicles and other materiel support to…

ADF STAFF The Ghana Navy in September received two Defender patrol boats that will enhance its capacity to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes. The U.S. government donated the boats and also provided a storage facility. The donation was worth more than GHC24 million ($1.5 million). The U.S. also gave Ghana two Defender boats last year. During a handover ceremony at the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) in Ghana’s Volta Region, Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Issah Adam Yakubu thanked the U.S. for providing the four…

ADF STAFF Tensions between Algeria and Mali are growing over how to resolve Mali’s ongoing Tuareg rebellion, which has continued for more than a decade. Algeria supports a negotiated settlement that addresses the rebels’ concerns and builds off a 2015 agreement. Mali’s ruling junta favors a military response. “Algeria fears that these escalating tensions could lead to a successful Tuareg separatist movement, which would inspire marginalized ethnic groups across Algeria, Niger and Libya to pursue autonomy,” analyst Assala Khettache wrote recently for the Royal United Services Institute. “A Tuareg breakaway in Mali could potentially destabilize an already fragile Sahel region,…

ADF STAFF The young woman was enticed by social media ads promising a job, good pay and a new life in Russia. The advertising photos showed women smiling as they cleaned floors and wearing hard hats while directing cranes at a factory in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. The ads included videos with upbeat music that showed African women visiting Tatarstan’s cultural sites or playing sports. They promoted a program called “Alabuga Start” that touted a free plane ticket to Europe and a well-paying job upon arrival. Excited by the benefits of a work-study program in a field such as…

ADF STAFF Three members of Guinea’s National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) were planning a demonstration against the country’s military junta when soldiers dressed as civilians arrived in armored vehicles and arrested them on July 9. The young men, Mamadou Billo Bah, Mohammed Cissé and Oumar Sylla, were taken to a jail on the island of Kissa. “There was a gendarme who gave me a slap and another one gave me a violent blow with his foot,” Cissé told Guinea’s FNDC TV. Cissé said the soldiers hit them in the face with metal bars and asked who…

ADF STAFF With almost half of all United Nations peacekeeping operations located in Africa, the continent has been the site of many successes, challenges and hard-earned lessons. In order to share some of these lessons, 10 senior leaders collaborated on a newly published book, “Military Diplomacy: The Experience and Leadership of Former United Nations Force Commanders in the Service of Peace.” With an eye on advancing Africa’s regional security architecture, former U.N. force commanders shared their experiences and takeaways in a panel discussion hosted by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) and the Swedish Defense University on October 22.…

ADF STAFF South Africa’s Navy, once the continent’s most powerful, is now struggling after years of financial belt-tightening forced it to forego needed maintenance and recruitment. The Navy’s recorded sea hours have dropped by more than 75% since 2018, reaching just over 2,700 hours this year. The underfunded service has a staffing shortfall of 3,000 people on a planned operational staff of more than 9,500. The Navy was forced to cancel a mission circumnavigating the African continent when its lead vessel, the SAS Amatola, was found unfit to sail. Once Sub-Saharan Africa’s most powerful Navy, South Africa’s Navy can now…