SOCAFRICA

Senior Officer Who Approved Niger Ambush Mission Gets Denied General rank

Following the deadly 2017 Niger ambush that resulted in the loss of four U.S. Special Forces troops, Colonel Bradley D. Moses, who approved the ill-fated mission, has been permanently removed from the promotion list to Brigadier General, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny and accountability faced by officers involved in the operation.

Russia deploys fighter aircraft to Libya, what does it mean?

Editor’s note: This article was written by Louis Tayler and originally published on Grey Dynamics. This report seeks to offer an assessment of the recent deployment of Russian aircraft in Libya in support to the LNA. Key Judgements On a tactical level, as many as 14 Russian piloted aircraft competently used will likely increase the LNA’s […]

Africa’s little known piracy hot-spot and how to counter it

Editor’s note: This article was written by Ana-Maria Baloi and originally published on Grey Dynamics. This report examines the benefits of using satellite imagery in countering piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea. For collection and processing, the author used Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Geointelligence (GEOINT). The reconstructed scenario is based on the following key […]

Ethiopian Military accused of extrajudicial killings, detentions, and torture

Amnesty International, in a report released on Friday, has accused the Ethiopian Military of committing a host of serious human rights abuses including torture, extrajudicial killings, and unlawful detentions. Amnesty International’s report urged Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to investigate the country’s security forces for oppressive measures. Prior to Ahmed’s administration, Ethiopia’s security forces had been […]

Defeating terrorism in the Sahel requires all facets of government

Several interconnected conflicts are raging in several countries in the Sahel region of Africa. And yet for much of the world, this hasn’t registered as either noteworthy or very important. But it is, and not just to the countries involved. Just in 2019 alone, over 4,000 people were killed in terror attacks in the Sahel.  […]

Terrorists still number 1 on Special Operations Command’s target deck

Army Gen. Richard D. Clarke, the commander of SOCOM, addressed attendees virtually on last Tuesday during the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC). He stated that the number one priority for SOCOM operators remains the countering of Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs). He emphasized that extremism is a “generational issue.” Nevertheless, General Clarke, speaking to the […]

The Special Operations world of Sub-Saharan Africa

It is common knowledge that warfare has greatly evolved in our times: from the strategic to the operational and tactical levels, from training and equipment to mission statements and structure. Indeed, literally every facet of warfare has seen close to a complete doctrinal overhaul. A good number of countries across the globe have firsthand experienced […]

One year ago, the French Special Operations community lost two of its best

On the evening hours of May 11, 2019, French frogmen from the elite Commando Hubert conducted a daring hostage rescue operation in Burkina Faso. The operation was successful as the four hostages, two French, one South Korean, and one American, were rescued. However, two French commandos died from enemy fire. The two commandos were identified […]

French Legionnaires die in the Sahel fighting Jihadists

Two French Legionnaires have died from wounds sustained while fighting Islamic extremists in Mali. Brigadier Dymyto Martynyouk was part of a mounted patrol when his armored vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on April 23. His wounds were severe enough and couldn’t be treated in-theater. He was evacuated to France where he, unfortunately, died in […]

Irish top Special Operations unit returns from Africa

The Irish Government has ordered the return of the country’s top Special Operators from Mali despite the qualms of the United Nations. The small contingent, approximately 14 men, of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW), Ireland’s Tier 1 Special Operations unit, have been on the ground in Mali for approximately four months. Their main purpose there […]

Su-25 accidentally fires missile while on ground, misses parked C-130, kills 5

A Russian-made Su-25, belonging to the Chadian Air Force accidentally fired a missile that veered into a senior Chadian commander’s home, killing five people including three children.  The video footage captures the firing of the missile at the Adji Kossei airbase as the aircraft was preparing to take off. The missile clips an empty fuel […]