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 a national address on June 12, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu praised security forces for the gains that they are making on the ground. Along with…
Beijing’s official stance of neutrality and nonintervention in the paramilitary M23’s rebellion against the Congolese government is increasingly being challenged by the reality on the ground:…
The terrorist attack in April that killed Mali’s defense minister in his home added fuel to the notion that Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin could one day…
Zimbabwean researcher Charles Moyo believes that Southern Africa is a region at a crossroads. While it enjoys peace and stability relative to the rest of the…
Cameroon is working to deregister and sanction foreign vessels that illegally register with the country to avoid detection. These shadow fleet tankers often carry Iranian, Russian…
When Civicus, a South Africa-based alliance of civil society organizations from around the world, recently added Burkina Faso to its human rights watch list, the reasons…
Sahelian terror groups are expanding their reach and influence, conducting large-scale attacks across huge swaths of territory in the junta-led countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and…
AI is being used to analyze data related to a wide range of threats such as unregulated fishing, banditry and terrorism. But experts warn that security…
Cameroonian authorities continue to crack down on illegal gold mining sites run by Chinese nationals. Over a three-day period in June, a delegation led by Fuh…
Plans are underway in Morocco to build the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center, which promises to be a beacon for the present and future of…