Limits of military power: Israel struggles for global legitimacy
Israel’s military exports and ‘emotional extortion’ have thus far given it diplomatic protection against its injustices in the Middle East and role in global conflict
Military
The militarisation of geopolitics: New trends in global defence spending
Military expenditure may seem a necessary response to threats, but investing in peaceful resolution mechanisms and international cooperation is paramount in addressing the causes of conflicts
Blasts in Khartoum as army renews call for volunteers
The army announced Monday it was ready to “receive and prepare” volunteer fighters, after Abdel Fattah al-Burhan last week urged Sudanese “youth and all those able to defend” to join the military.
Women still considered a threat to military effectiveness and warrior spirit
But there is evidence that women’s voices can no longer be ignored in the armed forces – meaning that gender is now firmly on the agenda as never before
Neat hair at school is a colonial mess
Can policing hair relate to community and equality, or is it solely a function of colonial militarism?
Democracy delayed in Mali spurs sanctions from neighbours
Mali’s junta now finds itself ostracised by its regional peers – and at the centre of a dangerous new geopolitical game.
Africa in brief: August 21 – 28
What’s been happening on the continent this week?
SANDF sends ‘Goats’ to Mozambique to fight insurgents
South Africa’s new military weapon takes a leaf out of the Libyan rebel forces’ handbook as it lands in Mozambique to fight insurgents
South Africa Navy’s strike craft lands in Mozambique
We reveal details of the South African National Defence Force’s contribution to the Southern African Development Community’s military mission to rid Mozambique of insurgents
Military not a magic bullet: South Africa needs to do more for long term peace
More than ever before, decisive leadership is needed from politicians, military leadership and civil society to march the South African National Defence Force in the right direction
Phase Two: looting was just the start say investigators and intelligence
‘A serious military operation is yet to come. Once you disrupt Soweto, you have the attention of the country and the world’
Matthew Krouse’s ‘mid-career retrospective of a no career’
An exhibition of Matthew Krouse’s underground films reveal an agitator awed by the tradition of ‘dirty queens’
Culture of sexual abuse rife in SANDF
Rape, kidnapping and victim-blaming are endemic and perpetrators protected, report finds
The heavy price of pushing masculinity
In the frantic pursuit of patriarchal ideas of manhood, boys often lose their ability to love — this paves the way for cruelty and violence
Johannesburg cannot police its future
South Africa’s biggest city is ground zero for debates about the long-term effectiveness and constitutionality of militarised urban policing and how we imagine the post-Covid city
The Nigerian government is killing its citizens — again
‘Nigeria kills its people. Nigeria has always killed its people.’
India and China border conflict intensifies
A frontier dispute between the two Asian giants turned deadly for the first time in 45 years. Observers argue the skirmish was exacerbated by Delhi’s annexation of Kashmir and Ladakh
Pandemic-induced human rights violations a double tragedy to humanity
The conflation of human rights violations and a pandemic leave the most vulnerable marginalised. Equitable and democratic societies are needed to fight against this
At war with Covid-19: Opportunities for Africa?
Civil-military relations across the continent are tenuous, at best. Covid-19 may have given African governments an opportunity to create a new social compact with their citizens
Police and military abuses raise concerns amid lockdown defiance
Multiple reports and videos are emerging of authorities abusing their power as they crack down on lockdown violations
Military’s R500-million plane contract — for no planes
Even though no planes were ever supplied, a company wants hundreds of millions of rands from the military for a contract to supply two aircraft
Sudan’s generals should be targeted with global sanctions
The EU must monitor military leaders, rather than use them to outsource migration control
Sudan protesters reject talks after 108 killed in crackdown
Security forces moved in to brutally disperse a protest sit-in on Monday
Sudan braces for strike as protesters pile on pressure
Sudan is bracing for a two-day nationwide strike from Tuesday called by protesters to pile pressure on the military
Venezuela’s Guaido makes new bid to rally military support
Opposition leader Juan Guaido will make a fresh bid on Saturday to rally Venezuela’s armed forces behind him with protests at military bases
A frightful night in False Bay
‘I don’t feel safer knowing our military can blow algae to bits’
Suspicion of electoral fraud revives civilian tensions in Mali
In the north and centre of the country — shaken by jihadist violence and lawlessness — tension has been sharpened by the vote
Pakistan votes after bitter campaign marred by violence
The vote is meant to be a rare democratic transition of power in the nuclear-armed country
Nigeria military rescues 1,000 Boko Haram hostages
More than 1,000 people held captive by the militant group Boko Haram have been freed, according to Nigeria’s military
‘Crocodile’ Mnangagwa’s prophetic words ahead of Zim stalemate
The storm that erupted in Zimbabwe had been brewing for some time, blowing open tensions in the security forces
Mnangagwa: Zimbabwe’s leader in waiting?
Emmerson Mnangagwa appears well-placed to return to a leading role in Zimbabwe following the army’s takeover
Women freedom fighters tell of sexual abuse in camps
‘In MK, there was this belief that you don’t want to divert from the struggle by talking about women’s liberation and feminism’