Viewpoint

U.S. Africa Command Staff Sometimes it’s the unexpected threats that cause the most damage. A cyberattack can paralyze a nation’s power grid. Disinformation can send protesters to the streets and fuel civil unrest. Small, off-the-shelf…

There are no easy solutions to the decadelong security crisis in the Sahel. Extremist groups that first planted their flags in Mali during the political upheaval of 2012 have spread to destabilize parts of Burkina Faso and Niger.…

U.S. Africa Command Staff Military intervention in politics has left a damaging legacy in Africa. Between 1960 and 2000 there were an average of four coup attempts per year on the continent. In many cases, these armed takeovers were…

U.S. Africa Command Staff Private security should come with a warning label: Buyer beware. Private military companies (PMCs) can be valuable when they play a supporting role. Militaries hire them to transport troops and equipment or…

U.S. Africa Command Staff COVID-19 has slowed global commerce, but it has not stopped criminals intent on stealing Africa’s natural wealth. In fact, some poachers, loggers and maritime criminals see the virus as an opportunity. They…

U.S. Africa Command Staff As COVID-19 swept the globe in 2020, security professionals were called on to perform new duties. They enforced quarantines, patrolled streets, guarded hospitals and transported lifesaving medical gear. While…