China's PLA Trains African Military Officers

 China-Africa Security Radar posted on 21 July 2025 an article titled "'Africanizing' Security: Charting the Future of China-Africa Peace Cooperation."

The People's Liberation Army Command College in Nanjing hosted in July the Young Leaders Conference of the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum for mid and senior-level military officers from more than 40 countries.  It is part of Beijing's pledge to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI).  The article concludes that the long-term impact of the GSI will depend on how effectively African stakeholders can adapt and sustain the initiative for their own purposes.  

Is Libya Russia's Gateway to Africa?

 The Middle East Institute posted on 21 June 2024 an analysis titled "Libya Remains the Key for NATO to Counter Russian Malign Activities in Africa" by Jonathan M. Winer, former US special envoy for Libya.  

The author argues that Russia's military engagement in Libya remains crucial to its future success in Africa.  Russia has double downed on its military build-up in Libya.  He is critical of NATO's careful approach to Russian engagement in Libya and, without providing specific policy changes, urges NATO pursue a more robust response.

China's Security Strategy in Africa

Paul Nantulya, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University, testified before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on 20 February 2020. He reviewed China-Africa security cooperation and concluded that Africa plays an increasingly important role in China's security strategy.

China's Growing Security Role in Africa

The European Parliamentary Research Service published in October 2019 a briefing titled "China's Growing Role as a Security Actor in Africa" by Gisela Grieger.

The rising number of violent attacks against Chinese workers, calls from the domestic Chinese audience for action, and surging economic loss are some of the factors that have compelled China to give security a higher priority in Africa. China has shifted from uncompromising non-involvement to selective and incremental engagement in bilateral, regional, and international cooperation on peace and security by nuancing, on a case-by-case basis, its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of foreign countries. China is extending its security influence in Africa by stepping up its engagement in UN peacekeeping operations and supporting anti-piracy efforts. These involvements have provided the rationale for establishing a military base in Djibouti and expanding its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

This survey offers a useful summary of China's current security-related activities in Africa.

US Scales Back Counterterrorism Effort in Africa

The New York Times published on 1 March 2019 an article titled "Where Terrorism Is Rising in Africa and the U.S. Is Leaving" by Eric Schmitt.

About 6,000 United States troops (many stationed at the U.S. military base in Djibouti) and 1,000 Defense Department civilians or contractors work throughout Africa, mainly training and conducting exercises with local forces. The Trump administration is scaling back this engagement when terrorism is on the rise in parts of Africa and as US Africa policy shifts to a focus on countering China and Russia on the continent.

China's Rapidly Evolving Security Agenda in Africa

The Chinafrica Project broadcast on 28 July 2018 a 27-minute podcast titled "China's Rapidly Evolving Security Agenda in Africa" with Lina Benabdallah, Wake Forest University.

The discussion covers the range of China's security relationships with Africa and suggests why African military personnel are increasingly eager to work with their counterparts in the People's Liberation Army.

AFRICOM and Security Cooperation

The most recent issue of Joint Force Quarterly published an article titled "Implementing Guidance for Security Cooperation: Overcoming Obstacles to U.S. Africa Command's Efforts" by Major Andrus W. Chaney, formerly chief of the Office of Security Cooperation at the US embassy in Djibouti.

The article outlines four areas where AFRICOM can improve its efforts to operationalize and synchronize its security cooperation in the region.

Somalia: Al-Shabaab Demanding Children

Human Rights Watch published on 14 January 2018 an account titled "Somalia: Al-Shabab Demanding Children." It reports on al-Shabaab's program that forces communities to hand over their children for indoctrination and military training.

Lessons Learned in Libya

The Washington Post published on 5 August 2015 an excellent analysis titled "Libyan Force Was Lesson in Limits of U.S. Power" by Missy Ryan.  It is a cautionary tale on the limits of international military training for a national army in Libya.