West Africa

Defence and security news from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and the wider West African region.

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Nigeria Asks Czech Republic to Help Build an Ammunition Production Line

Nigeria Asks Czech Republic to Help Build an Ammunition Production Line

Nigeria has formally asked the Czech Republic to help its state arms maker build a domestic ammunition production line, as the two countries also explore...

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Why Nigeria Bought the JF-17 Thunder: Deal, Cost and Results

Why Nigeria Bought the JF-17 Thunder: Deal, Cost and Results

Nigeria bought three JF-17 Thunder fighters from Pakistan in 2016 because its air force needed an affordable multirole jet it could pay for in cash...

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ISWAP Attack on Kukawa Special Forces Base: What Nigeria’s Military Has Confirmed

ISWAP Attack on Kukawa Special Forces Base: What Nigeria’s Military Has Confirmed

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters attacked a Nigerian Army special forces position in Kukawa, Borno State, on the night of Tuesday 6 October...

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Nigeria Super Tucano: What Five Years of Combat Use Have Shown

Nigeria Super Tucano: What Five Years of Combat Use Have Shown

The Nigeria Super Tucano fleet has been at war for five years. Since twelve A-29s arrived in 2021, the Nigerian Air Force has flown them...

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Nigerian Air Force Takes Delivery of Two Airbus H125 Helicopters

Nigerian Air Force Takes Delivery of Two Airbus H125 Helicopters

The Nigerian Air Force has formally inducted two Airbus H125 light helicopters at its Lagos base, the latest piece of a five-aircraft rotary-wing delivery that...

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Why Did Côte d’Ivoire Buy the Wing Loong II?

Why Did Côte d’Ivoire Buy the Wing Loong II?

Côte d'Ivoire bought two Wing Loong II armed drones because its northern border with Burkina Faso and Mali had become the entry point for Sahel-based...

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Light attack aircraft for African counter-insurgency air forces: what is in service and on order

Light attack aircraft for African counter-insurgency air forces: what is in service and on order

African air forces fighting insurgents from dirt strips and forward bases have bought light attack aircraft in three ways: a proven single-engine turboprop (the Embraer...

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Mali’s Army Re-enters Kidal After FLA Withdrawal: What Is Confirmed

Mali’s Army Re-enters Kidal After FLA Withdrawal: What Is Confirmed

Mali's armed forces re-entered Kidal on Tuesday 6 October 2026, five months after the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM drove...