Author: James Okafor
James Okafor
James Okafor is a defence and security analyst with over 14 years of experience covering sub-Saharan Africa's military affairs, peacekeeping operations, and defence procurement. A former strategic communications consultant for regional security bodies, he has reported from conflict zones across the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region. His analysis has been cited by think tanks including the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) and various NATO-affiliated research institutions. James holds an MA in International Security Studies from the University of Pretoria and a BA in Political Science from the University of Lagos. He specialises in drone warfare, naval modernisation, arms trade dynamics, and the growing role of private military contractors on the African continent.
In July and August, more than 800 Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters and commanders defected from the Sudanese paramilitary group and declared their allegiance to the…
When terrorists attacked Bamako and Niamey earlier this year, the military leaders of Niger and Mali did not turn to their own troops or their newly…
A series of recent arrests highlights the trend of Mexican drug cartels manufacturing methamphetamine in Nigeria and other areas. Analysts say the Sinaloa and Jalisco New…
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) amasses an estimated $100 million a year through a web of illicit activities that illustrates the way terrorism, organized crime and…
There is an information war being fought in Mali online and on social media platforms. A new study outlines how generative artificial intelligence is being used…
Terror groups and criminal gangs are turning kidnapping for ransom into a lucrative business in Nigeria. These groups were paid $5.8 million in ransom between July…
The late August mutiny against Niger’s ruling junta raised questions about its dependence on Russia’s Africa Corps for security, growing discontent among front-line soldiers, and the…
Members of the Tunisian Special Operations Maritime Task Group rappelled from a Tunisian UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and onto a large vessel in the Mediterranean Sea. Joined…
Yemen’s Houthi rebels are sending weapons across the Red Sea and sharing technology and knowledge with armed groups in a way that could upend East Africa’s…
Drones have become an in-demand surveillance tool and weapon of choice with 34 African nations operating drone programs. But a new report suggests that a lack…