ADF

ADF STAFF On the surface, Diamville SAU is a Central African company working in the diamond trade. But Diamville is more than that: It’s the front for a Russian operation selling diamonds from the Central African Republic to finance Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Diamville operates in the Central African Republic (CAR) under the umbrella of Russia’s Africa Corps, the mercenary group formerly known as the Wagner Group. Diamond mining is part of Russia’s strategy to extract valuable resources from African countries, often in exchange for providing military aid through Africa Corps. Diamville took control of CAR’s diamond industry by…

ADF STAFF That Senegal has never had a coup or a civil war is both a source of great pride among its people and a rarity in Africa. The coastal West African country, surrounded by what recently has become known as a “coup belt” of countries that stretches across the continent, owes much of its stability to its military. Having worked with senior officers in the Army, Senegalese activist Alioune Tine says his country’s armed forces have a strong reputation on the continent and internationally for being well-trained, disciplined and principled. “There is a democratic culture, and there is also…

ADF STAFF The Somali National Army and local forces in late December recaptured Masagaway, a town in central Galmudug State, from al-Shabaab, marking a significant victory in the ongoing war. Masagaway is about 270 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu and is home to a military base. It has been the site of major battles between government forces and local militias, and had been under al-Shabaab control for four months. “The al-Shabaab terrorists have been removed from Masagaway town and operations to pursue them are going on from several fronts in eastern parts of the Galguduud region at the moment,” Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala,…

ADF STAFF Five people were kidnapped on the Mayo Djarendi-Madingring road in northern Cameroon in early September. The abductors, known for their activity in the Mayo-Rey department, demanded a 40,000,000 Central African CFA francs (almost $67,000) ransom to release the hostages, according to the Actu Cameroun newspaper. The victims worked for the Forests and Environment Sector Program, raising concerns about the safety of aid workers and development program employees in the region. In late October, bandits kidnapped 40 people from Chad and Cameroon in the northern Cameroonian commune of Touboro. Touboro Mayor Célestin Yandal said the victims were returning home…

ADF STAFF In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the word “Wazalendo” has become nearly as ubiquitous as the sight of armed men in fatigues. They are local militiamen who have partnered with the Congolese military (FARDC), primarily to fight the M23 rebels who have terrorized North Kivu province for nearly two years. Fighting has intensified since October 2023, and the growing number of combatants has heralded a dangerous new phase. “Before, we too were called rebels. Today, they call us Wazalendo and we don’t hide anymore,” a member of the Mazembe Mayi-Mayi self-defense group…

ADF STAFF Weighed down by the costs of war, the COVID-19 pandemic and billions of dollars in Chinese loans, Ethiopia defaulted on a loan payment recently, joining Ghana and Zambia on the list of African countries unable to pay their debts. Chinese loans constitute about half of Ethiopia’s $28 billion in foreign debt over the past 25 years. Since 2000, Ethiopia has borrowed $13.7 billion from China to build roads, railroads, water systems and telecommunication infrastructure, among other things. Most of those Chinese loans came from the Export-Import Bank of China or the China Development Bank and carry higher interest…

ADF STAFF High in the Virunga mountains in the town of Lubero, United Nations peacekeepers ceremonially lowered their flag and raised that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On December 26, 2023, the U.N. mission known as MONUSCO handed over control of a base it had occupied for 21 years. One resident recalled the peacekeeping force’s arrival and its efforts to secure the surrounding roads. “At the time, to get from Goma to Beni, the only way was by plane,” he told a U.N. representative. “No trader dared to use the road due to the presence of armed…

ADF STAFF As Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to claim territory from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), experts are warning of a protracted civil war with disastrous regional implications. After nine months of fighting, the RSF controls most of the west part of the country and much of the capital, Khartoum, while the SAF is holding onto areas in the east. Both sides appear to have the weaponry and external support to continue fighting for months, making this new phase of the war particularly dangerous, according to an analysis by the International Crisis Group (ICG). “The paramilitaries have…

ADF STAFF The kidnapping of crew members from a tanker ship traveling between Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon on January 1, 2024, is a stark reminder that piracy remains a concern in the Gulf of Guinea. In response, the Nigerian Navy has added to its arsenal of ship-based drones to help monitor coastal waters. “In an era where the nature of warfare is evolving rapidly, embracing cutting-edge technologies becomes imperative for enhancing our national security,” Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, chief of naval staff (CNS), said during a recent ceremony inaugurating 12 British-made Ovation unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) by Comstrac Systems. Ogalla…

ADF STAFF Overall resilience to organized crime has improved across Africa since 2021, but resilience levels are not keeping pace with rising crime. That is according to the Africa Organized Crime Index 2023, compiled by the Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organized Crime (ENACT) project, which found that crime  “has grown undeterred since 2019, with illicit markets increasing in pervasiveness and the influence of criminal actors expanding” around the continent. The rise in crime is tied to ongoing conflicts, rampant insecurity, declining democratic order and state accountability, according to the report, which is published every two years. It lists human…