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Defence

Nigeria
Beijing fumes over unpaid Air Force drone bills

Chinese-made Wing Loong II attack drones operated by the Nigerian Air Force have become the focus of increasingly acrimonious negotiations between state-owned aerospace group AVIC and military officials struggling to cover their operating costs.

Subscribers only Defence 18.06.2026

Spotlight | Gabon, Ivory Coast
From Libreville to Abidjan, Israeli arms broker Gaby Peretz casts his net wide

Gabonese Armed Forces parade in Libreville, 17 August 2024.© Wilfried Mbinah/AFP

Subscribers only Defence 17.06.2026

Benin
Belgian top diplomat pushes military cooperation strategy in Cotonou

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot in Ankara, Turkey, in May 2026.© Benoit Doppagne/Belga via AFP

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 16.06.2026

Guinea
Special forces load up on new Turkish assault rifles

The country's authorities have signed a contract with the small arms manufacturer Sarsilmaz to strengthen the army and gendarmerie elite units, troops particularly favoured by the regime.

Subscribers only Defence 15.06.2026

Inner Circle | DRC
In the shadow of General 'Omega', the FDLR's last men standing

A projectile detonates outside the city of Goma in February 2025.© Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP

Subscribers only Defence 12.06.2026

Kenya
Security services on alert over volatile social climate

Public anger is mounting for a number of reasons and people are expected to take to the streets by the end of June. Police and intelligence agencies have stepped up surveillance and advised that the army be kept on standby in case protests spiral.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics 12.06.2026

Ivory Coast
Aircraft manufacturer Grob trains Ivorian Air Force pilots in France

The French branch of the German group is currently teaching Ivory Coast military personnel in western France. The aim is to get them ready for Chinese aircraft that are due to be delivered.

Subscribers only Defence 12.06.2026

Morocco
Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer in talks on two fronts

The firm has been in talks with the Moroccan military on the installation of a command centre capable of centralising all military operations.

Subscribers only Defence 12.06.2026

Guinea
Doumbouya strengthens cybersecurity providers to keep closer eye on opponents

Conakry has called on the expertise of specialist firms to strengthen the capabilities of its postal and telecommunications regulatory authority, which monitors calls and internet networks, as the crackdown on the opposition intensifies.

Subscribers only Defence 10.06.2026

Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya in Nairobi, Kenya on 12 May 2026.

Senegal
French firm Thales closes Dakar office, sealing withdrawal from West Africa

After ceasing the operations of its local branches in Nigeria and Ivory Coast, the French flagship firm in the defence electronics sector has decided to quietly close its Senegalese office, which coordinated its activities in the region.

Subscribers only Defence 10.06.2026

Chad
French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

A handful of French officers returned to N'Djamena in mid-April to revive cooperation with the Chadian army, at a time when the partnership with Turkey is faltering.

Subscribers only Defence 08.06.2026

Nigeria
National Counter Terrorism Centre's regional push raises the stakes

The NCTC is stepping up its efforts to become a regional centre of excellence. This process is still under discussion with ECOWAS.

Free access Defence 08.06.2026

Adamu Laka, head of the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja, on 24 November 2025.

Spotlight | Cameroon
US military prepares return to Far North

As jihadist pressure mounts around Lake Chad, US troops will once again be deployed in the region. This should help Washington expand its intelligence capabilities in the Sahel, and will enable Yaoundé to consolidate a regime weakened by a post-election crisis.

Subscribers only Defence 05.06.2026

Africom Commander Dagvin Anderson speaking before the US Senate in Washington on 14 May 2026.

In Focus | Mali
Iyad ag Ghali's coalition and Goïta brace for a decisive showdown

After the 25 April offensive that struck at the heart of Mali's power structure, the war has entered a new phase. Goïta is clinging to the option of military action with increased support from Moscow, while the JNIM and FLA are preparing the next phase of their campaign and launching an intense regional diplomatic offensive.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 04.06.2026

© Illustration: Ezinne Osueke - AFP ; Romaric Ollo Hien/AFP ; AFP ; Michael Kappeler/dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP

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Defence

Nigeria
Beijing fumes over unpaid Air Force drone bills

Spotlight | Gabon, Ivory Coast
From Libreville to Abidjan, Israeli arms broker Gaby Peretz casts his net wide

Benin
Belgian top diplomat pushes military cooperation strategy in Cotonou

Guinea
Special forces load up on new Turkish assault rifles

Inner Circle | DRC
In the shadow of General 'Omega', the FDLR's last men standing

Kenya
Security services on alert over volatile social climate

Ivory Coast
Aircraft manufacturer Grob trains Ivorian Air Force pilots in France

Morocco
Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer in talks on two fronts

Guinea
Doumbouya strengthens cybersecurity providers to keep closer eye on opponents

Senegal
French firm Thales closes Dakar office, sealing withdrawal from West Africa

Chad
French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

Nigeria
National Counter Terrorism Centre's regional push raises the stakes

Spotlight | Cameroon
US military prepares return to Far North

In Focus | Mali
Iyad ag Ghali's coalition and Goïta brace for a decisive showdown

Spotlight | Ivory Coast
Abidjan redefines military cooperation with Beijing, Paris and Washington

Nigeria
Abuja looks to Poland for paramilitary training

Mozambique
Chapo weighs broader security support for Mozambique LNG

Guinea
Conakry's unpaid bills leave army without South African vehicles

Ivory Coast
Abidjan weighs much-anticipated military programming law

Ivory Coast
Yamoussoukro set to turn itself into a defence industry hub

The weekly summary

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Defence

Nigeria Beijing fumes over unpaid Air Force drone bills

Spotlight | Gabon, Ivory Coast From Libreville to Abidjan, Israeli arms broker Gaby Peretz casts his net wide

Benin Belgian top diplomat pushes military cooperation strategy in Cotonou

Guinea Special forces load up on new Turkish assault rifles

Inner Circle | DRC In the shadow of General 'Omega', the FDLR's last men standing

Kenya Security services on alert over volatile social climate

Ivory Coast Aircraft manufacturer Grob trains Ivorian Air Force pilots in France

Morocco Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer in talks on two fronts

Guinea Doumbouya strengthens cybersecurity providers to keep closer eye on opponents

Senegal French firm Thales closes Dakar office, sealing withdrawal from West Africa

Chad French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

Nigeria National Counter Terrorism Centre's regional push raises the stakes

Spotlight | Cameroon US military prepares return to Far North

In Focus | Mali Iyad ag Ghali's coalition and Goïta brace for a decisive showdown

Spotlight | Ivory Coast Abidjan redefines military cooperation with Beijing, Paris and Washington

Nigeria Abuja looks to Poland for paramilitary training

Mozambique Chapo weighs broader security support for Mozambique LNG

Guinea Conakry's unpaid bills leave army without South African vehicles

Ivory Coast Abidjan weighs much-anticipated military programming law

Ivory Coast Yamoussoukro set to turn itself into a defence industry hub

The weekly summary

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Nigeria
Beijing fumes over unpaid Air Force drone bills

Spotlight | Gabon, Ivory Coast
From Libreville to Abidjan, Israeli arms broker Gaby Peretz casts his net wide

Benin
Belgian top diplomat pushes military cooperation strategy in Cotonou

Guinea
Special forces load up on new Turkish assault rifles

Inner Circle | DRC
In the shadow of General 'Omega', the FDLR's last men standing

Kenya
Security services on alert over volatile social climate

Ivory Coast
Aircraft manufacturer Grob trains Ivorian Air Force pilots in France

Morocco
Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer in talks on two fronts

Guinea
Doumbouya strengthens cybersecurity providers to keep closer eye on opponents

Senegal
French firm Thales closes Dakar office, sealing withdrawal from West Africa

Chad
French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

Nigeria
National Counter Terrorism Centre's regional push raises the stakes

Spotlight | Cameroon
US military prepares return to Far North

In Focus | Mali
Iyad ag Ghali's coalition and Goïta brace for a decisive showdown

Spotlight | Ivory Coast
Abidjan redefines military cooperation with Beijing, Paris and Washington

Nigeria
Abuja looks to Poland for paramilitary training

Mozambique
Chapo weighs broader security support for Mozambique LNG

Guinea
Conakry's unpaid bills leave army without South African vehicles

Ivory Coast
Abidjan weighs much-anticipated military programming law

Ivory Coast
Yamoussoukro set to turn itself into a defence industry hub