Africa’s armies must adapt to new threats

KDF poll bearers carry the casket containing the remains of Wilson Kiprop Kurui who was laid to rest at his home in Sacho, Baringo County, on February 2, 2016. African armies need to go back to the drawing board and critically analyse the current threat so that their military machines and personnel have the relevant weaponry. PHOTO | CHEBOITE KIGEN | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • On its part, Kenya has been a beacon of peace in the Horn of Africa with an excellent record of peace keeping operations globally.
  • The Americans have resorted to use of drones in hunting terror masterminds.

African countries with the biggest economies are involved in wars both inside and outside their boundaries?

Nigeria has been a symbol of military mighty in west Africa. In the early eighties and nineties, it was the main contributor of both troops and military hardware in restoring peace in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

On its part, Kenya has been a beacon of peace in the Horn of Africa with an excellent record of peace keeping operations globally.

Egypt has been a key player in African and Arab politics.

During the early sixties and late seventies, many newly independent African countries were on the brink of collapse due to military coups conducted by junior military officers.

In the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia and Somalia became the epicentre of the cold war between the United States of America and the Soviet Union.

In Southern Africa, Angola was a battle ground between the Marxist government and the rebels supported by apartheid South Africa and the Americans.

Mozambique was experiencing a bitter civil war where Mozambique Resistance Movement (Renamo) rebels backed by South Africa were fighting a bush war against the Marxist supported Frelimo government.

One country that totally avoided being sucked into civil war during the Cold War was Malawi.

This tiny country led by dictator Hasting Banda was the only country in Africa with full diplomatic relation with apartheid South Africa.

Kamuzu Banda was brutal in dealing with the opposition. Most opposition figures disappeared through the hands of his notorious secret police.

GUERRILLA TACTICS

Malawi army was quite unique. The army had no tanks, no air force save for few transport planes to carry soldiers and paratroopers.

The West including South Africa, were ready to arm the Malawi army with fighter aircrafts, battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, heavy artillery and combat helicopters.

The Malawi government refused to all these incentives. Reason? Malawi was not foreseeing any conventional military threat from its neighbours - Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Since the government was autocratic, the only threat to Malawi were twofold; one possible insurgency activities from within due to dictatorship or political intolerance and rebel activities from neighbouring Mozambique, in this case Renamo which was operating on the border.

How did Malawi address this threat? The army was heavily trained in guerrilla warfare.

The entire army was infantry with heavy counter insurgency tactics. From this approach, Malawi army managed to maintain peace and security amid dictatorship from independence to the end of the Banda era.

The country’s border with Mozambique was totally secured despite a two decade brutal civil war between Renamo and Frelimo government, which was more intense near the border.

During the 9/11 the most advance air force in the world was unable to identify and hit hijacked passenger aircrafts that targeted key buildings in a suicide mission.

In 2005, Britain the fourth strongest military in the world was not able to combat suicide bombers who had brought terror in the heart of London.

The Americans and the British have now adapted to new security threats.

FRESH SECURITY MEASURES

The Central Intelligence Agency and army special units are highly trained in dealing with terror threats.

The Americans have resorted to use of drones in hunting terror masterminds.

Their use of both intelligence and military precision hardware with little manpower has proved effective in containing the terror threat.

In Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, two countries known for their big armies, are grappling with threats from Boko Haram and Isis in Sinai Peninsula respectively.

Despite their military mighty and record of war experience, the two armies need to adapt to their new threats.

African countries need to borrow a leaf from tiny Malawi.

The Boko Haram has suffered setbacks from the Chadian army (a fairly ill -quipped force) in that region because of proper threat assessment, the Chadians have been more effective in repulsing Boko Haram from Lake Chad area and part of Cameroon.

African armies need to go back to the drawing board and critically analyse the current threat so that their military machines and personnel have the relevant weaponry and tactics in dealing with the new threats facing their countries.
The enemy is neither conventional nor revolutionary. It applies conventional, guerrilla and terror tactics. This includes poisoning the minds of the young.

Mr Mbarak is a retired military officer and a Certified Security Management Consultant [email protected]