Galamsey (literally “gather them and sell”) is the local Ghanaian term to describe illegal, small-scale, and unregulated gold mining, which typically occurs along riverbeds. 1/2

One of the most sensitive drivers of the conflict in eastern Congo is citizenship—specifically, the unresolved status of Congolese communities with origins from around the Great Lakes region. africacenter.org/spo...

Sudan has a long history of using militias to outsource security agendas. This has served to fragment and deprofessionalize Sudan’s security sector. The current competition for supremacy between the SAF and the RSF is an ongoing outcome of this fragmentation. africacenter.org/spo...

5 Facts to Know: Addressing the Underlying Drivers of the DRC Conflict 1️⃣ 4.3 million people are displaced across the Kivus ⚠️ Ongoing fighting involving more than 120 armed groups, coupled with the increasing use of drones, has displaced 4.3 million people.

Insecurity in eastern DRC persists as the M23 Movement and the Congolese government intensify their fighting with the use of drones and heavy artillery.

Sustained stability in eastern DRC will not be achieved on the battlefield.

If you're following the Sudan war you know the basics: SAF v RSF. If you've been tracking it carefully you know it's more complicated, with national, regional, and tribal armed groups as well as Islamist groups and foreign fighters. (See the image for just the groups affiliated with the SAF.) 1/2

Why is gold mining in Ghana becoming a security crisis for West Africa? The country has seen the rise of a massive economy of illicit gold mining called "galamsey". 1/5

African scholars have found that Chinese security assistance increases the coercive capacity of recipient governments, to repress opposition parties and violate human rights. This is nothing new, but it is a growing trend as Beijing increasingly militarizes its African engagements. 1/2

5 Facts to Know: Ghana’s Illegal Gold Mining Crisis 1️⃣ Its scale rivals legal mining 📊 Illegal small-scale gold mining—known locally as galamsey—generates an estimated $11 billion in foreign exchange, compared with $9 billion from large-scale commercial mining.

La prolifération des drones renforce les capacités de surveillance maritime tout en permettant à des acteurs malveillants de perturber le transport maritime mondial, mettant ainsi en évidence une faille critique dans l'architecture de la sécurité maritime.

Les drones dans l'océan Indien occidental obligent à s'adapter en matière de sécurité maritime

Les drones renforce les capacités de surveillance maritime tout en permettant à des acteurs malveillants de perturber le transport maritime mondial.

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São Tomé and Príncipe President Carlos Vila Nova has won a second term, according to preliminary results. Vila Nova received more than 55% of the vote, while his closest challenger, Nito D'Abreu, secured just over 41%.

Beijing's dominance of global minerals: • half of global critical minerals production • 87% of processing and refining • 70% of rare earth minerals production • 93% of high-strength rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing • 95% of the necessary heavy processing of critical minerals 1/2

China’s military strategy in Africa is advancing China’s goal of achieving “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by 2049.” But is it advancing Africa's goals? Defenders point to capacity-building, but critics worry Africa may be entangled in geostrategic rivalries. africacenter.org/spo...

L'expérience du Sénégal en Casamance montre que l'instauration d'un climat de confiance entre les forces de sécurité et les communautés locales est un moyen pratique essentiel pour obtenir leur coopération et prévenir toute mobilisation vers la violence. africacenter.org/fr/...

Russia’s influence in Africa is built on a paradox. Moscow has become the dominant external actor in the Sahel and elsewhere on the continent despite providing only 1% of foreign direct investment, minimal security assistance, and a political model Africans largely reject.

Russia’s New Frontier in Africa

As Russia’s influence in the Sahel collapses, Moscow is pivoting to tactics of fomenting dissent and the allure of military rule in coastal West Africa.

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Previous eras of natural resource extraction from Africa have been highly disruptive, contributing to the "resource curse", where countries with relatively more abundant natural resources tended to become more autocratic, corrupt, and conflict prone while lagging in their development. 1/2

Africa’s reliance on foreign suppliers for technology infrastructure is widely seen as a major cybersecurity vulnerability. Explore the ways African countries can reap the benefits from externally supplied technology while safeguarding their critical infrastructure: africacenter.org/spo...

São Tomé and Príncipe heads to the polls this weekend for the country's eighth cycle of presidential elections since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1991. Here's the electoral summary you need: africacenter.org/spo...

If you're following the security and human rights collapse in the Sahel, you may be wondering where to find an example of security done well, with cooperation and trust between authorities and local communities. If so, you'll want to learn more about Senegal's experience:

Building Trust to Buttress Senegal Against the Growing Threat of Violent Extremism

Building trust with local communities, security agencies can gain cooperation and preempt violence, as Senegal has learned in the Casamance.

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La lutte contre la nouvelle épidémie d’Ebola est particulièrement difficile en raison de l’éloignement de la région et de l’insécurité persistante. Voici un aperçu de ce que l’on sait à ce jour.

Épidémie d'Ebola en RDC : explication

Afin d’endiguer la nouvelle épidémie d’Ebola qui sévit dans l’est de la RDC, une mobilisation soutenue des acteurs régionaux et internationaux est nécessaire pour surmonter l’insécurité, l’inaccessibilité et la désinformation

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The Western Indian Ocean is a strategically vital network of maritime corridors connecting global trade—a hub for the global economy that collectively facilitates roughly a quarter of global maritime traffic. And drones are transforming the region's security landscape.

UAVs in the Western Indian Ocean Forcing Adaptations in Maritime Security

The proliferation of UAVs is enabling malign actors to disrupt global shipping—exposing a critical gap in the maritime security architecture.

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Have you seen our new map of Sudan's armed groups? It's much more complicated than just SAF v. RSF. Visit the link below and mouse over each state for a fuller list. (As an example, here's just the groups in North Darfur.) africacenter.org/spo... 1/2

Burkinabè investigative journalist Serge Oulon disappeared after being detained in 2024. He remains unaccounted for. Many other leading journalists have faced repeated arrests, detentions, and forcible conscription by Burkina Faso's ruling junta. 1/5

China’s integration in African maritime ecosystems extends well beyond port construction. China is a major financier and operator of African road, rail, and warehousing infrastructure linked to these ports, closely intertwining African trade networks with China. africacenter.org/spo...

The Sahel countries are facing a security crisis. They need new ideas and community support. Unfortunately their ruling juntas are pursuing the opposite: spending resources silencing citizens instead of insurgents. africacenter.org/spo...

Defense leaders facing setbacks of the magnitude seen in the Sahel would ordinarily reassess strategy, force posture, intelligence failures, partnerships, and operational priorities. Instead, the juntas in power in the Sahel have focused on further tightening the domestic political space. 1/2

Analysis by African scholars has found that Chinese security assistance strengthens the coercive capacity of recipient governments, contributes to human rights violations, and enables the repression of opposition parties.

China’s Military Footprint in Africa Deepens as PLA leads BRICS Naval Drills

China’s increasingly militarized Africa policy threatens Africa’s preference to avoid being pulled into competing geopolitical camps.

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There are an estimated 150 militias active in Sudan. Military & paramilitary forces, tribal militias, Islamist brigades, community defense groups, criminal gangs, foreign mercenaries, they comprise a wide range of motivations, organizational structures, and training levels. africacenter.org/spo...

Ebola response in the eastern Congo is particularly challenging because of the region’s remoteness and the ongoing insecurity. Here's everything you need to know:

Ebola Epidemic in the DRC: Explainer

China’s growing integration in Africa’s maritime infrastructure presents opportunities and risks, requiring strategic management by African governments.

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