Africa - Washington Institute For Defence & Security

04 Aug 24

Reevaluating US counter-terrorism efforts in Africa: The case for termination

The United States of America (US) has been spending billions of dollars on arming and training African militaries for over 25 years. The US has also created a military regional command specifically for Africa, established operating military bases or deployed forces in West Africa, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, and provided both military […]

07 Jun 24

African rejection: The United State strategic loss and impact

The sudden removal of over 1000 US special Operations troops and drones operators last month from Niger and Chad should be worrying for Washington. The United State strategy in Africa has not proven impactful. This is about focusing on security partnerships instead of democracy. It is good for the US to adopt the new strategy. […]

13 Apr 24

Niger’s pivot to Moscow: Implications for US engagement in Africa and future strategic direction

A military pact between the US and Niger that provided US soldiers with a vital base and launching pad in the Sahel area of Africa has been halted. The action comes after a controversy about the African country’s connections to Iran and Russia broke out when US officials traveled to Niger last week to voice […]

26 Mar 24

African conflict zones: Assessing threats to US interests

It captures the most current international events, such as the conflicts in Sudan, Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, and the Red Sea. The US went on to say that Africa’s susceptibility to terrorism constituted a danger to US interests. “terrorists will continue to be interested in carrying out attacks against US citizens, allies, and interests worldwide using chemical, […]

20 Feb 24

Is South Africa Supporting Hamas?

Deep splits have been made evident in South Africa as a result of the battle between Israel and Hamas; among others, leaders of the Jewish community in the nation have criticized the government for its unwavering backing of the Palestinians. The government said that Israel’s ambassador to Pretoria was becoming “untenable” and announced the removal […]

14 Feb 24

The Soaring Menace: Terrorism In Africa Surges 100,000% During The ‘War On Terror

There have been several deadlocks, mishaps, and total losses in the US-led war on terror. Over the course of more than two decades of military engagements, the United States has witnessed the catastrophic collapse of its efforts in both Iraq and Afghanistan But Africa could have suffered more from its “Forever Wars” than the Middle […]

07 Feb 24

US Urges Nairobi To Join Anti-Houthi Campaign As East African Peers Exercise Caution

Over the last two weeks, Nairobi has played home to high-ranking US intelligence and defense officials, such as William Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and General Michael Langley, the commander of Africa Command (Africom). The administration remained silent regarding the results of their travels, but they did result in promises of […]

27 Jan 24

Sudan’s Strategic Significance: A Key Player in the Battle For The Red Sea

Since last April, Sudan has been plunged into conflict. This conflict might escalate into a full-fledged civil war, which would have a significant impact on international trade. Vital resources such as chromite, gold, iron, uranium, and zinc are abundant in Sudan. Additionally, it is home to two significant Red Sea ports, Port Sudan and Port […]

04 May 22

WIDS Security Bulletin – April 2022

Washington Institute for Defense and Security Security Bulletin – April 2022 Europe & North America: Mariupol, Ukraine: Russian forces have encircled the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, cutting off supplies and logistics for the defenders. By April 22nd, the final Ukrainian holdouts were concentrated in the Azovstal Steel Plant, an industrial facility which has […]

28 Mar 22

What’s Next for Mali?

The past few years have seen major political upheaval in the West African nation of Mali, with two coups in as many years. The most recent transition took place in May 2021, when President Bah Ndaw was ousted by his vice president and former special forces colonel, Assimi Goïta. The newly established junta, as recently […]