Africa

Global Competition For Africa

Riley.C.Murray — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 09:23:49 +0000

Global Competition For Africa Riley.C.Murray Wed, 11/10/2021 - 4:23am

The proliferation of arms and military bases on the continent of Africa according to some scholars, has been responsible for violence, crime, and terrorism especially in the sub-Saharan region. It has become one of the banes to security and development challenges in Arica since the end of the cold war. The wave of proliferation across Africa has resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people each year in countries like Somalia, Kenya and Nigeria. In Nigeria for instance, arms and violence conflict proliferation across the country has ravaged lives and properties, and over 2000 people reported dead in the country.

Chinese Mercenaries in Africa

Riley.C.Murray — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 19:03:54 +0000

Chinese Mercenaries in Africa Riley.C.Murray Sat, 06/05/2021 - 3:03pm

Chinese investments in Africa have multiplied in recent years, especially since the 2013 launch of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). But China has realized that it is a mistake to entrust security and development to trade alone. A new generation of Chinese private security companies sees the BRI as an opportunity for lucrative contracts and international expansion, but its shortcomings are evident on the ground. Currently, the few properly certified Chinese private security companies in Africa appear to be operating semi-autonomously, oriented towards niche markets. And so far not as an extension of the state, but these companies may be the tool Beijing needs to prevent the defense of its citizens and assets from forcing it into military interventions that, for the time being, remain beyond its reach.

Strategy Bridge: “Why Are We in Africa?”: The Dilemmas of Making American Strategy towards the African Continent

Riley.C.Murray — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:20:16 +0000

Strategy Bridge: “Why Are We in Africa?”: The Dilemmas of Making American Strategy towards the African Continent

by Sam Wilkins

https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2021/3/30/why-are-we-in-africa

Read more about Strategy Bridge: “Why Are We in Africa?”: The Dilemmas of Making American Strategy towards the African Continent

Nigeria Should Build Peace Like it Fights Coronavirus

SWJED — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 04:12:39 +0000

Nigeria Should Build Peace Like it Fights Coronavirus SWJED Mon, 04/13/2020 - 12:12am

Nigerian leaders struggling to reduce violence in the country’s myriad conflicts should take some lessons—from their own response to the coronavirus. While Nigeria’s COVID-19 ordeal is still unfolding, its eventual casualties unknown, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and several governors have modeled the ways to reduce catastrophic outbreaks.

Four Lessons from Outbreaks in Africa for the Age of Coronavirus

SWJED — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 06:34:52 +0000

Four Lessons from Outbreaks in Africa for the Age of Coronavirus SWJED Sat, 04/04/2020 - 2:34am

As the coronavirus pandemic continues and new behavioral practices—from social distancing to avoiding handshakes and hugs—become expected norms overnight, there are crucial policy lessons to be learned from struggles against previous outbreaks of disease in Africa.

Amid Red Sea Rivalries, Eritrea Plays for Independence

SWJED — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 09:58:48 +0000

Amid Red Sea Rivalries, Eritrea Plays for Independence SWJED Mon, 03/16/2020 - 5:58am

When Eritrea’s president last month hosted the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia to discuss “regional cooperation,” that initiative drew few global headlines. Still, Eritrea’s move should be noted by policymakers and others working for stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

Analysis/Commentary: Pentagon Announces Army 1st SFAB Deployment to Counter Surge in Violent Extremism and Russian/Chinese Competition

SWJED — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 13:16:11 +0000

Analysis/Commentary: Pentagon Announces Army 1st SFAB Deployment to Counter Surge in Violent Extremism and Russian/Chinese Competition SWJED Sat, 02/22/2020 - 8:16am

Last Wednesday, the Pentagon announced the Army’s 1st SFAB (SFAB—Security Force Assistance Brigade) would deploy within the coming weeks to conduct train, advise, and assist missions in select African countries. This is a good move as it sustains U.S. military presence, and reinforces U.S. commitment to regional security partners as they work to beat back violent extremist and strategic competitor gains for influence.

A Cause of and Solution to Extremism: A Case for Civil Military Operation (CMO) Capacity Building in African Partner Forces

SWJED — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:36:33 +0000

A Cause of and Solution to Extremism: A Case for Civil Military Operation (CMO) Capacity Building in African Partner Forces SWJED Mon, 01/13/2020 - 8:36am

As CA forces begin to instruct CMO to African partner forces the curriculum must be semi standardized in order to ensure both unity of effort and interoperability. AFRICOM, SOCAF, USARAF, and Marine Forces Africa (MARFORAF) must ensure that they coordinate with each other as well as centers of instruction such as USAJFKSWCS to create a standard set of POIs that achieves the desired effect of an African partner force that is able to win the human domain.

East Africa Needs a Regional Counterterrorism Center

SWJED — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:30:43 +0000

East Africa Needs a Regional Counterterrorism Center SWJED Tue, 12/17/2019 - 5:30am

The task of rethinking East African counterterrorism cooperation has gone through many phases but remains limited in scope. Kenyan, Tanzanian, and African Union counterterrorism centers exist, but they are principally research and policy centers or local one-country interagency apparatuses. Other limitations are highlighted by the lack of multi-country intelligence operations uniquely designed for East African counterterrorism writ large, i.e. tackling the regional al-Shabaab threat in a simultaneous permanent fashion at one location.

Germany’s Options in the First Moroccan Crisis

SWJED — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 11:45:50 +0000

Germany’s Options in the First Moroccan Crisis SWJED Thu, 09/19/2019 - 7:45am

Following the Franco-Prussian war and its unification in 1871, the German Empire was a latecomer to the “Scramble for Africa.” Only in 1890 did it adopt Weltpolitik, seeking possessions abroad and equal status among the European imperial powers.