Mercenários: um Acessório numa RCA Assolada pela Guerra forum

As China has expanded its investment in mineral mining projects on the continent, allegations of environmental and human rights abuses have risen at an alarming rate. The Business and Human Rights Centre, an international nonprofit organization that promotes corporate accountability and transparency, revealed in a July report that allegations of abuse linked to Chinese mining in Africa more than doubled from 45 in 2024 to 100 in 2025. The abuses involve the mining of energy transition materials, which are naturally occurring metallic and non-metallic substances key to many high-tech devices and electric vehicles. Worldwide, the Centre documented 326 allegations of abuse across transition-mineral projects linked to Chinese companies between 2023 and 2025. In that time, there were 119 allegations in Africa, which made up 37% of the total. “In the increasingly fast-paced race for these minerals, serious allegations of human rights and environmental abuse are also on the rise,” the report stated. “Urgent action by Chinese actors is required to ensure the global energy transition is not only fast, but also fair to the communities and workers directly affected by the vast mining operations that power it.” The report, titled “Shifting ground: Human rights, Chinese investment and the rush for transition minerals,” showed that the highest number of allegations in Africa came in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 52, followed by Zimbabwe with 20, Guinea with 18, Zambia with 15 a

Over the last two years, Somalia’s al-Shabaab terrorists have established a relationship with Houthi rebels in Yemen — one that could alter the decades-long battle between the al-Qaida affiliate and government forces in Mogadishu. A new report by The Century Foundation (TCF) public policy research institution outlines the evolving ties between al-Shabaab and the Houthis as the Somalia-based terrorists seek to gain both knowledge and, potentially, technology from the Iranian-backed Houthis. So far, the relationship has been built around training and knowledge transfer, with hundreds of al-Shabaab fighters traveling from their base in southern Somalia to western Yemen to learn drone operation, bomb making and small arms use. Al-Shabaab and the Houthis have nothing in common culturally, linguistically or theologically. Analysts say their relationship is largely transactional: Al-Shabaab wants access to Houthi weaponry, particularly antiaircraft technology; for the Houthis, a footprint on Somali territory could give them greater leverage over shipping through the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb Strait while also helping them recruit new fighters. Al-Shabaab fighters have recently died on battlefields in Yemen. “Al-Shabaab is no doubt impressed by the Houthis’ ability to beat back air attacks and launch their own cross-border strikes,” TCF researchers Peter Salisbury, Nadwa Al-Dawsari and Jay Bahadur wrote in their report, based on in-depth interviews, public and private available

The Sudanese Armed Forces might be using and stockpiling chlorine-based chemical weapons for use against the rival Rapid Support Forces in the country’s ongoing civil war, according to new reporting. Documents, videos and intercepted communications appear to describe a program for making chlorine-based munitions, with stockpiles numbering in the hundreds, according to news organizations including The New York Times and The Washington Post. The examined material appears to show weapons being developed and tested in a factory. Mark Albon, former head of the United Nations Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ investigation unit in Syria, told a panel in September that there is “every reason to believe” that at least one chemical weapons attack already has taken place in Sudan. He said the strongest evidence identified an attack in September 2024 at Al-Jaili refinery, north of Khartoum, according to The National, a Middle East news organization. Reports of chemical warfare have been circulating in the region for months. “The use of chemical weapons represents a new low in a conflict in which both sides have been accused of committing war crimes on a wide scale,” reported the Arms Control Association in January. “The army is the only armed group in Sudan with the aerial military capacity to carry out such attacks. Similar tactics were employed by the military forces of former dictator Bashar al-Assad during the civil war in Syria.” The Sudanese civil war began in

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 of proper training and oversight has turned drones into a threat for civilians who may be mistaken for military targets. According to a report by Nigerian nonprofit news organization HumAngle, the race to acquire AI-enabled drones is leaving behind a devastating trail of civilian casualties. “The weapons are said to be precise, but evidence proves their use has put civilians in harm’s way,” HumAngle reported in a recent study. Over the past five years, more than 900 civilians have died in drone strikes because either AI systems or operators mistook them for enemy targets, according to analysts. At the heart of the problem is a lack of in-depth training. “There seems to be no trace of training pipelines for many African militaries, particularly in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ethiopia,” HumAngle reported. While militaries receive training on the basics of operating drones, for example, there is little training on the more complex issues of situational judgment and mission discipline that help operators evaluate what researchers describe as “ambiguous real-world situations” that can lead to deadly errors involving civilians. Experts consulted by HumAngle argue that the race to use semi-autonomous drones has outpaced legal frameworks, failsafe mechanisms to confirm targets and training between ground troops and drone ope

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 security landscape, a new report shows. The 41-page August 2026 report, “From Spoke to Hub: The Houthis in Africa,” by the nonpartisan think tank Century International details the Houthis’ “multifaceted effort to expand their presence and influence along the African coast of the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.” “Since the early 2020s, alone and in concert with Iran, the Yemeni group has established itself as a key player in illicit trade in Yemen and its neighborhood; recruited migrants from African countries to serve as smugglers, spies, and soldiers; and built ties not just with al-Shabaab but also with Islamist factions within the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF),” the report states. Interactions with Somalia’s al-Qaida affiliate present a dire threat should the terrorist group obtain advanced Houthi weaponry such as Iranian-style explosives, anti-aircraft missiles and drones. Even more dangerous would be evidence that al-Shabaab had “acquired the knowledge to modify, assemble or eventually manufacture drones locally,” Alex Jalil, a researcher with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED), told The Africa Report for an August 31 article. The Houthis emerged in the 1990s under the name Ansar Allah, which means “Partisans of God.” They represent the Zaidis, Yemen’s Shia Muslim minority sect, and claim membership in

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 by United States Marine Corps members, they then descended a staircase onto the deck, where they searched for contraband, opened a hatch and pointed their guns inside. The forces were participating in a visit, board, search and seizure operation during Phoenix Express 2026, a 12-day event. It encouraged international collaboration to address human trafficking, illegal fishing, piracy and fuel smuggling in the region. Tunisia hosted the training, sponsored by United States Africa Command and led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa. It ended September 18. “Tunisia has been proud to host Phoenix Express and welcome our partners from across the region and beyond,” Tunisia National Navy Commodore Rejeb Gara Ali said in a statement. “Bringing our forces together here creates an opportunity to exchange expertise, conduct advanced training and strengthen the cooperation that contributes to a safer, more secure maritime environment.” Fourteen nations with maritime interests in the Mediterranean Sea participated in the exercise. Activities during the 21 st iteration included joint search-and-rescue drills, simulated ship boardings and live demonstrations aimed at improving tactical coordination. Other participating countries included Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Georgia, Italy, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Türkiye, Sau

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 apparent weakness of the country’s defense alliance with Burkina Faso and Mali. Violence broke out in and around the Nigerien capital around 1 a.m. on August 29 as dozens of soldiers opened fire on the presidential palace while attempting to take control of Niamey’s international airport and the adjoining Air Base 101. Many of the rebelling soldiers were part of missions to fight terrorists in the south and west of the country. Air Base 101 is Niger’s primary military outpost and the headquarters of Africa Corps’ 200- to 300-person contingent in the country. The August mutiny was the third attack on the airport this year. Africa Corps fighters found themselves briefly held hostage by the attack. Eventually, they responded by using weapons and kamikaze-style drones to help retake the airport after the presidential guard struggled to do so. Russia’s role in putting down the mutiny revealed weaknesses that are likely to create more problems for the junta led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, said Yvan Guichaoua, a senior researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies in an interview with RFI . “The Russians’ involvement and their decisive role in retaking the base [Air Base 101] make the regime dependent on Russia,” he said. “Tiani now owes the Russians something.” Russia’s involvement

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 2025 and June 2026, more than triple the amount paid over the previous period. Kidnappers abducted at least 7,825 people, up 66%, and killed at least 1,142 people, including 895 civilians. That is according to a report by SBM Intelligence, a consultancy firm in Lagos, which found that 90% of the ransoms paid went to the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram. Two mass abductions by the group accounted for more than $5.2 million in ransom payments. On March 3, kidnappers abducted 416 people, mostly women, children and the elderly, from the Gwoza Local Government Area in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State. The terrorists issued a 72-hour ultimatum to receive a ransom of more than $3.7 million. Aisha Ibrahim’s teenage sister was among the victims. “Being that my sister is a teenager, we have all been afraid about her condition since the day they issued the 72-hour ultimatum, because they are always the first victims,” Ibrahim told Nigeria’s Daily Trust newspaper. “They will marry them off and we will never see her again. We are appealing to the government to do everything possible to secure their release before it’s too late.” The full ransom was reportedly paid and the victims were released in early June. On November 21, 2025, gunmen abducted 303 children and 12 teachers during an atta

As insurgencies multiply in Africa, militaries are investing in special operations forces (SOF). These highly trained, disciplined operators take on asymmetric threats using speed, stealth and lethality. But as the importance of SOF grows, it must adapt to meet 21st century challenges. Cross-border terror attacks, weaponized drones, AI-backed cyberattacks — all these threats require new partnerships and training. Leaders have found that SOF must be interoperable to be effective. Although SOF personnel of African nations speak different languages, use different hardware and follow different procedures, they share the same bond of selfless service to their respective countries. To work together, SOF must establish frameworks for cooperation and build professional networks that let them train together. African SOF leaders also are working to develop common doctrine that reflects the unique geography, cultures and security challenges on the continent. Today’s operators understand the importance of mastering technology. Terror groups are using drones to launch attacks and AI to spread false information and disrupt computer systems. But technology also can be used to defend the public. Young SOF operators are comfortable using high-tech tools, and it is up to SOF leaders to encourage them to be innovative and stay ahead of their adversaries. SOF leaders also recognize the need to support the people who execute these difficult missions. Developing human capital means making sure SOF

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama commissioned officer cadets into the Ghana Armed Forces during a January 30, 2026, ceremony at Ranger Baba Parade Square, Whistler Barracks, Teshie, Accra. His remarks have been edited for space and clarity. The security environment in our subregion remains complicated and volatile. Violent extremism, terrorism and transnational crime continue to pose serious threats, particularly along our northern border. Globally, the rise of nonstate actors and asymmetric warfare has reshaped the nature of security challenges. These realities demand a comprehensive and coordinated national response. Security cannot be seen as a sole responsibility of the armed forces and security agencies. It is a shared national duty. Citizens, communities, traditional authorities, civil society and government must work together to protect the peace and stability we all cherish. I therefore urge all Ghanaians to remain vigilant and security conscious in safeguarding our nation’s peace. As we celebrate our graduating cadets, we do so against the backdrop of Ghana’s proud legacy in international peace support operations since 1960, when Ghana first participated in a United Nations mission in the Republic of the Congo. Our nation has remained steadfast in its commitment to global peace and security. Today, Ghana is among the leading troop-contributing countries to U.N. peacekeeping missions. Our men and women serve with distinction in 15 missions worldwide under the U.