African News

Nigeria and UK host counter-MANPADS workshop

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Recognising the availability of man portable missiles and rockets to terror groups as a continued threat to civil and military aviation, the Nigerian National...

Questions again raised about SAMIDRC with DR Congo on Luanda presidential agenda

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Angola today (Thursday, 8 August) with the “situation” in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the agenda...

Ex Southern Accord underway in Botswana

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Southern African Development Community (SADC) founding member Botswana is currently hosting Exercise Southern Accord, a two-week joint military exercise to upskill participants in humanitarian...

UN DR Congo mission authorised to assist SAMIDRC

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A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution adopted this week makes available UN peacekeeping resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - under...


Ivory Coast parades new weaponry

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Cote d’Ivoire has unveiled a new batch of military hardware, including DCD Protected Mobility Husky route clearance vehicles, ahead of its independence day parade. During...

Morocco to acquire Israeli spy satellites

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Morocco is acquiring two spy satellites from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in a deal apparently worth $1 billion. IAI on 10 July announced a $1...

US military completes withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Niger

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The United States military has completed the withdrawal of its forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, in line with plans...

Joint military exercise between China, Mozambique and Tanzania underway

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The Chinese, Mozambican and Tanzanian militaries are currently holding the Peace Unity 2024 joint exercise in Tanzania, focussing on counter-terror military operations. Senior Colonel Zhang...

In Libya, everything comes down to military muscle

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The arrest of Libyans who allegedly received military training in South Africa hints at the nature of power in the north African country. Were 95...

Ghana and South Africa to strengthen military ties following high-level meeting

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The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) strengthened bilateral defence ties during a two-day defence meeting in Ghana. The GAF...

Luanda brokers DR Congo ceasefire

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The United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and MONUSCO, the world body mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) all expressed appreciation for...

Angola receives first C295 from Airbus

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The Angolan Air Force has taken delivery of the first of three new C295 transports from Airbus, with the aircraft arriving in Luanda last...

AU solidarity field mission visiting Cabo Delgado

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An African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) delegation is currently in Mozambique to, amongst others, gather “first-hand information” on the situation in...

EU sanctions nine people and a political movement in DR Congo

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Nine people and an “entity” apparently involved in “sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity” in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) find themselves...

Senegal takes delivery of two landing craft from Israel

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Israel Shipyards has delivered two 24 metre long landing craft (LCM) to Senegal after signing a contract for the vessels two years ago. On 25...

DRC ceasefire for humanitarian aid is a small step forward – what must happen...

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The United States has negotiated a truce so humanitarian assistance can be given to more than seven million people, including children, caught in the...

Proforce debuts new Hulk armoured vehicle

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Nigeria’s Proforce has introduced a new armoured vehicle, the PF Hulk, designed for military troop and equipment transportation. The company, revealing the new mine-resistant, ambush-protected...

How militia groups capture states and ruin countries: the case of Sudan’s Rapid Support...

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The rise of Sudan’s most notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, shows how armed groups can infiltrate state institutions – often with disastrous...

Parliament hears SANDF is protecting SA national interests in the DRC

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Protecting and promoting South Africa’s national interests in the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are some of the reasons for the SA National...

Ethiopia receiving MCAV-20 vehicles from Calidus

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Ethiopia appears to have taken delivery of a significant number of new MCAV-20 armoured vehicles manufactured by Calidus in the United Arab Emirates. Video appeared...

SANDF confirms latest casualty in the DRC

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The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that a soldier was shot and killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last...

ISIS SA cells named in US Treasury action against ISIS

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The United States (US) Treasury Department is, according to a statement, “taking action” against three people associated with expanded activities of the Islamic State...

DR Congo truce extended to early August as fighting continues

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“Armed attacks” and “deadly violence” were two phrases used by a senior United Nations (UN) spokesman in a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)/MONUSCO briefing...

“Non-State” attacks in Burkina Faso force thousands to flee

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Renewed attacks on civilians in eastern Burkina Faso by what the United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency terms “non-State armed groups” is forcing thousands to...

EU funding to boost Benin defence force capabilities amid growing instability

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West African country Benin is the newest addition to the European Union (EU) Peace Facility benefit list to the tune of €5 million (roughly...

SA soldiers guilty of breaking DRC base standing orders, sexual abuse charges dropped

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Nine South African soldiers summarily deported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last October in connection with allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse...

SANDF soldier apparently shot dead in the DRC

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Yet another South African National Defence Force (SANDF) fatality has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the latest incident apparently...

DRC conflict risks spreading: African leaders must push for solutions beyond military intervention

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In response to the deepening crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Security Council established a panel of independent experts...

Is the world finally growing weary of Kagame’s excesses?

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Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has cruised to another incredible 99%-plus victory in the country’s presidential elections. The latest results showed he had amassed 99.18%...

SAMIM operations conclude – pack up and equipment transport underway

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The Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial committee on defence and security has commended both leadership and personnel involved in the just ended SADC...

Famine fears escalate in Sudan, talks ongoing, while violence continues in South Sudan

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Hunger and the spectre of famine “stalk” Sudan, particularly the North Darfur capital El Fasher where an estimated 800 000 are trapped without food,...

African country acquires BOYGA ammunition drop drone from Turkey

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An undisclosed African customer has acquired BOYGA ammunition drop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey’s STM. STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret AŞ) said the...

Peacekeeper deaths in DRC lead some to say SADC is outmanned and outgunned

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A deadly attack by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that killed two South African Soldiers is raising questions...

IMB notes increasing violence against seafarers

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A decrease – no matter how slight – in piracy incidents should not see any lowering of vigilance levels by merchant shipping. This warning...

Military muscle rather than mediation prevails in DRC

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A burgeoning coalition of diverse military forces has been unable to prevent the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from taking a beating in...

South African DR Congo deployment criticised – again

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In the wake of nine deaths of South African military personnel detached to two separate peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),...

Mozambique defence minister thanks SAMIM for Cabo Delgado contribution

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The end of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has been officially noted by that country’s defence minister. The regional bloc...

US military completes exit from Air Base 101 in Niger

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The US Department of Defence and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Niger have announced that the withdrawal of US...

Sahel becoming less safe and coastal states under threat – Africom

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The Sahel has become less safe due to the expanded number of terror groups in the region, with instability on the cusp of affecting...

Eastern DR Congo “a rapidly escalating crisis” – MONUSCO Head

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The senior United Nations (UN) representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) warned the Security Council (SC) the “rapidly escalating crisis” in the...

Nigerian Air Force confirms 50 new aircraft are on the way

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed plans to acquire 50 new aircraft in the next year, from combat jets to attack helicopters. Chief of...

EU naval force downs nineteen Houthi drones and missiles in six months

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Since its setting up and operationalisation six months ago, the third European Union (EU) naval task force in African waters – Operation Aspides -...
Remembering the Rwanda genocide. Picture: United Nations

Will Rwandan genocide come back to haunt PW Botha man?

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Cape Town-based non-profit organisation (NPO) Open Secrets wants Pretoria resident Willem “Ters” Ehlers prosecuted for aiding and abetting the April 1994 Rwanda genocide. It submitted...

EU VP to visit strategically sited Djibouti

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European Union (EU) Vice President Josep Borrell will be in the Horn of Africa country, Djibouti, from tomorrow (Saturday, 6 July) to Monday with...

SAMIM criticism misses larger point

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Since the announcement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) drawdown from Cabo Delgado province, there have been various criticisms...

Tunisia upgrading main military training facility

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The Tunisian Armed Forces are upgrading their primary training area at Ben Ghilouf with support from the United States. The upgrade is in its third...

EU to fund Kenya Defence Forces to the tune of $21 million plus

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The defence component of Kenyan President William Ruto’s administration is on the receiving end of a 20 million euro (about $21.5 million) “assistance measure”...

Italy intercepts Chinese UAVs being smuggled to Libya

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Italian authorities have seized Fei Long-1 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - disguised as wind turbine parts - that were being smuggled to Libya in...

MONUSCO exits South Kivu

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As the year-end closure of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) looms ever larger, last week saw...

Turkey sends Syrian mercenaries to Niger

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A few kilometers from the border between Turkey and Syria, at Al-Muksourah base in the Tel Abyad countryside, Turkish military officers supervised a training...