+6-:t
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Covering Military Affairs since 1975 journal

CRISIS IN
CENTRAL
AFRICA

THE ROLE OF
ACADEMICS IN
AFRICAN DEFENCE
GENERAL MASTERS
– SA DEFENCE
WORKS FORMATION
INTERVIEW

THE ARMS OF
AFRICA – TOOLS
OF THE TRADE
 His fishing boat has not put to sea for months. Piracy
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act as a command centre or co-ordinate interventions.
Helping to bring security to hard-to-reach places. See
what the Airbus C295 means in an uncertain world at
airbusmilitary.com
AFRICAN
ARMED
contents
FORCES 04 EDITORIAL

EDITOR: S J McIntosh 05 SITREP

09 INDUSTRY NEWS
PUBLISHERS:
Africa Conflict & Defence Monitor 13 FEATURE ARTICLES
PO Box 87561 WEAPONS OF AFRICA – HOW THE PRACTICAL
Houghton, 2041 AFFECTS THE TACTICAL
Republic of South Africa ETHICS AND THE MILITARY – A CASE FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ETHICS OFFICE IN
Tel: 011 487 3396
MILITARY ORGANISATIONS
Fax: 086 269 3378
info@aafjournal.co.za THE ACADEMIC-MILITARY GAP IN AFRICA –
www.aafjournal.co.za LESSONS FROM AFGHANISTAN

25 GLOBAL ISSUES
PRINTED BY:
Business Print Centre CRISIS IN AFRICA
Pretoria NOWHERE TO HIDE

29 AFRICA FLASHPOINTS
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
NIGERIA, EASTERN DRC, KENYA
12 Months – 11 Issues:
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           R390 Print BRIGADIER GENERAL DJ MASTERS
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Online purchase available at: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF OF THE GHANAIAN
http://www.mysubs.co.za/African- ARMED FORCES: MAJOR GENERAL JN ADINKRAH
Armed-Forces-Journal
SANDF CHIEF OF ARMY RESERVE: MAJ GEN
KEITH MOKOAPE
The copyright in all materials printed
in this journal is expressly reserved. 34 BOOK REVIEWS
However, consideration will be given ZAMBEZI VALLEY INSURGENCIES: EARLY
to any requests for the use by others
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR OPERATIONS
of news reports, articles and photo-
EXTREME RISK: A LIFE FIGHTING THE BOMBMAKERS
graphs, on the condition that the
source of the item is clearly stated. 37 BRIEFING ROOM

Submitting copy: All contribu- 38 LETTERS

tions to the journal are welcome.
Articles may be emailed through
to info@aafjournal.co.za. The pub-
lishers will exercise all care but do
not accept responsibility for pho-
tographs and manuscripts. Edit-
ing, changes to content and overall
editorial control is done at the sole
discretion of the editor.
ISSN 0379-6477
COVER IMAGE: Nigerian army soldiers from the 322nd Parachute Regiment practice field tactics during
combat training facilitated by U.S. Army Soldiers during exercise Flintlock 2007 in Maradi, Niger, April 6,
2007. The multinational exercise, which is part of the U.S. State Department’s Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism
Partnership, is an ongoing and long standing military-to-military relationship between Niger and the U.S.
that provides an interactive exchange of military, linguistic and intercultural skills for both countries and
will also help Niger to respond to threats within and across their borders to maintain security and stability.
CREDIT: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Larson

African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012 03

 MISSION
The AAFJ is committed to
providing its readership a quality
service in order to stimulate
and improve the defence debate
in Africa.

VISION:
To provide African military
professionals a public platform to
discuss issues of mutual interest.

editorial OBJECTIVES:
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militaries within the context of the
African Union in securing the peace

T
he Defence Industry and Defence Forces have to face reality with and security required for human
reduced budgets and increased personnel costs. Both will have to and economic development.
pay serious attention to cost-cutting measures. In both these it is t
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time that policy, priority and bureaucratic systems are considered relations, especially non-partisan
and if necessary addressed. parliamentary oversight.
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Too often the proposed “off the shelf” acquisition of equipment is seldom among African armed forces and
more than a byword. Available equipment of this nature is found to need military professionals.
unnecessary upgrades, and fittings for a military specification that raise the t
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final costs dramatically. Reserve Officers’ Associations and
reserve components within armed
The same applies to available existing equipment in service and operational forces.
with other Defence Forces, standards, which are too often not acceptable to t
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the new user, and require the supplier to follow a list of costly modifications. readership’s level of professional
military education.
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requirement? t

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indigenous defence industry.

Most Defence Forces have a set process of requisition and a highly qualified
staff to arrange the process, provide information and other parameters set
ADVISORY PANEL
out in the tender or procurement document. Perhaps they could be less-
Dr Martin Rupiya - Executive Director
demanding. of The African Public Policy & Research
Institute based in Pretoria.
Another instance could be the long delay in the placement and confirmation
of tenders and in this regard, South Africa is unfortunately a good example. Prof Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo - Dean and
Professor - Faculty of Economic and
Suppliers are aware of these too often interminable delays. This results
Management Sciences, University of
in the potential supplier building in greater costs of up to 10% or more
Pretoria
in anticipation of the expected delays. This naturally results in higher
procurement costs. Maj Gen Keith Mokoape - Chief of SA
Army Reserve
As a CEO in the South African Defence Industry recently said, there needs
Brig Gen Pieter Vosloo - Former SA
to be a better type of business process, within the industry, and perhaps in
Army Chief of Staff Infantry Formation
the defence force as well. and former Deputy Chief Director SA
Army Force Structure.

Prof Garth Shelton - Associate

Professor of International Relations,
Wits University

04 African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012


SITREP
A summary of defence reports
THE EGYPTIAN
PRESIDENCY AND THE
MILITARY: ALLIANCE OR
CRISIS?
The election of newly elected
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi,
suggests a radical shift in the balance
of power towards radical Islamism
in the country. However, a closer
inspection would suggest a delicate
balance of power being established
between the old and the new order
in the ancient country. Morsi who
recently resigned his membership
from the Muslim Brotherhood, gave
two speeches that seem to indicate
a smooth modus vivendi with Egypt’s
Supreme Council of the Armed Forces
(SCAF), the military body that has
been the de facto referee (and some
would say overall ruler) of the political
process in Cairo, since the demise of
Mubarak.
Morsi, an engineer who trained and
taught at the US, first saluted the
military leadership at an address at the
Cairo University at the end of June,
and then at a military parade held
two days later at the Hikestep training
grounds (Central Military Zone), went
so far to state that “your rights will not
be taken away” and “you can ask all
you want (…) as one day we will do
a parade to honor you”. Observers
believe that what he meant was that
he would not touch the economic and
political status of the generals and its
establishment which straddles military,
industrial and corporate might.
In return, Field Marshall Tantawi, the
powerful head of SCAF, offered Morsi
African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012
the highest honour of the Armed
Forces Shield, and kindly thanked the
president for his “… warm praise and
support”.
Although Morsi is president of the
republic, the absence of a permanent
constitution and of an elected fully -
fledged parliament, means the SCAF
still holds large powers by decree,
including supreme control over the
armed forces. Importantly, Tantawi
was Minister of Defence prior to
the election of Morsi as Egypt’s new
president. The head of state has to
ask SCAF for the right to wage war
or sign for peace, or deal with any
operational facet of command and
control related to the armed forces.
In another development that did not
please his most radical supporters,
when President Morsi addressed
SCAF at the Hikestep Central Military
Zone, he asked the military not to
return to barracks, but continue to
ensure internal security in major cities
and urban areas in general, due to
the lack of confidence from locals in
the police and paramilitary forces,
including riot units under the ministry
of the interior.
Some members of the “revolutionary
parties” wanted Morsi to initiate
sweeping changes including:
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armed forces, and in particular the
management boards and ownership
of many companies connected to the
generals, but not directly connected
SITREP
to any defense and security activity.
On this last point, most of these firms
are under the National Organisation
for Military Production. They include,
for example, the Al Nasr/Queen
Service (fertilisers, tourism, transport,
cleaning), AIO (optronics), Sakr,
the Helwan group, Abu Zaabqal,
Benha, Al Maadi Group, all dealing
in such diverse things as computers,
medical equipment, telecom and
industrial machinery, the El Hussein
“The head of state
has to ask SCAF for
the right to wage war
or sign for peace,
or deal with any
operational facet
of command and
control related to the
armed forces.”
CIT (clothing), the Pan Ausai (paints,
packages, petroleum), Alex Tiles (tiles,
bricks, marble), or ETP (emergency
vehicles).
For the moment, Egypt enjoys a
calibrated stability – but one which is
by no means guaranteed.
EGYPT’S DIFFICULT
MILITARY CHOICES
With almost half a million enlisted
men in four branches of the armed
05
 SITREP
forces, the Egyptian army by all
accounts still remains the strongest
and best equipped in Africa. The
SCAF is currently studying plans for
“rationalisation”, due to possible
budget restraints, caused by the
deep economic recession, including
the reprioritisation of equipment
acquisition.
The Supreme Council constitutes the
heads of the four branches, the head
of military engineering, the heads of
the four military zones and two armies,
four assistant defense ministers
and the powerful chief of military
intelligence and reconnaissance,
Major General Al Fattah El Sissy.
The military has a series of delicate
decisions to take, relating to the
security pact with Israel (viewed
negatively by many Muslim
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to Iran’s extended hand of friendship
including suggestions for deeper
military cooperation (in particular in
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groups in the Sinai and elsewhere,
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to stop arms smuggling to and from
Libya, and in general how to maintain
normal relations with the US, still the
main supplier of advanced weaponry
to Cairo.
This last point is critical as it includes
the new Halter Marine made,
Lockheed Martin-equipped, 500
ton UFPB (ultra-fast patrol boat)
Ambassador MKIII Class (armed with
advanced block Harpoon SSM, 1 RAM
SAM launcher and 1 DP modern gun),
the 4 batteries of M/MI-104 PAC-3
Patriot missiles (anti-missile capable
SAM), the Humvee mounted AIM-
120 SLAMRAAM advanced SAM, the
modernised (with Turkish TAI input)
Block 52 F.16 Falcon (20 done, a total
of 240 possible), the 47 revamped
AH-64D Apache attack helicopters,
the Model 32 A Scarab UAV, not to
06
mention the huge contingent of M1
Abrams MBTS, most also revamped,
with new electronics, sensors and
reactive armour add-ons.
Keeping the US military as friends may
prove difficult if President Morsi insists
on fulfilling an electoral promise: to
request from Washington DC the
release of Omar Abdel Rahman, the
Egyptian self-styled sheikh arrested
for the 1993 World Trade Centre
bombing (the so called Ramzi Yusef
conspiracy).
AFRICOM PREPARING
FOR NEW CHALLENGES
Still head-quartered in Kelley Barracks,
Stuttgart, Germany, AFRICOM is only
likely to obtain a significant increase
of special forces when US disengages
from Afghanistan. In the interim it is
terror or common crime groupings in
received the post from Brig. Gen.
AFRICOM
Losey receives command from Haas, back in
2011, at the Kelley Barracks
now working on filling its conventional
warfare needs, with the assigning of
Ft. Riley, Kansas -based “Dagger
Brigade” (1/1ID), a combat unit of the
US Army First Infantry Division, under
its command. This will put at least
three thousand men at the disposal
AFRICOM, as from March 2013.
Meanwhile, AFRICOM’s Special Forces
component called SOCAFRICA, which
was created in October 2008, has
been active in a host of operations.
These included anti-piracy fighting
in the Horn of Africa, anti-terrorist
actions in the Sahara and the Sahel
regions and elsewhere (including
a SOF detail chasing LRA warlord
Joseph Kony, with UPDF elite units),
coalition building, intelligence
capacity cooperation with local
authorities, assistance and training
of national security forces (including
the use of mobile teams, called
MTT), civilian affairs, and military
intelligence gathering (computer
network centred).
This range of activity is deemed
essential, as intelligence signs show
possible joint efforts by extreme
”Islamist” terrorist groups in Africa
such as AQIM (Maghreb), Boko Haram
(Nigeria), al Shahab (Somalia), Takfir
Wal Hijra and Salafist Jihad (Egypt),
etc. and even more dangerous, a
tendency to forge relations with non-
Mali, Niger and the Nigerian MEND.
SOCAFRICA is now commanded
by Rear Admiral Brian Losey, who
Christopher Haas. Losey was the
commanding officer of the anti-
terrorism task force in the Horn of
Africa.
“...intelligence signs
show possible joint
efforts by extreme
”Islamist” terrorist
groups in Africa such
as AQIM (Maghreb),
Boko Haram
(Nigeria), al Shahab
(Somalia), Takfir Wal
Hijra and Salafist
Jihad (Egypt).”
African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012
ISLAMISTS SEIZE GAO
FROM TUAREG REBELS
Tuareg rebels have lost the town of
Gao to Islamist militants in early July.
The rebels were engaged in a day-
long firefight with members of the
Movement for Oneness and Jihad
in West Africa (Mujao). Included in
the loss of Gao was the main Tuareg
National Movement for the Liberation
of Azawad (MNLA) headquarters
situated in the town.
Although a counter-offensive by the
MNLA could occur, with Gao being
eventually retaken, the significance in
the Mujao attack is in the concrete split
between Tuareg rebels and extremist
Islamist organisations. Linked to al
Qaeda, Mujao and MNLA are at
clear odds over Gao and presumably
the Azawad region as a whole. With
the latter organisation more inclined
towards a secular, independent state
next to Mali, the outbreak of fighting
has distinguished Mujao apart from
the Tuaregs explicitly.
US, BOTSWANA
SPECIAL FORCES TRAIN
TOGETHER
A total of 60 Special Forces soldiers
from the United States and Botswana
US ARMY AFRICA
African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012
have come together for the first
combined field training exercise in 10
years for Exercise Eastern Piper 12.
The exercise, held between 1st to
25th June and conducted by US
Africa Command (AFRICOM) and
Special Operations Command, Africa
(SOCAF), was a three week Foreign
International Defense (FID) structured
counter-terrorism base exercise,
which took place at the Thebepatswa
Air Base in Gaborone, Botswana.
US Special Forces soldiers from 10th
Special Forces Group (Airborne)
out of Fort Carson, Colorado,
trained with the Botswana Defense
Forces Special Forces (BDFSF) on
marksmanship, close quarter battle,
medical and tracking training in
an effort to strengthen US and
BDFSF relationships and to promote
and support Special Operations
Capabilities, said Master Sergeant
Grady Dewitt, noncommissioned
officer in charge for SOCAFRICA
Exercise Branch.
Eastern Piper began with a week
of US Special Forces-led combat
marksmanship (CMMS) training where
BDFSF soldiers perfected their ability
to engage targets with precision using
their submachine guns and pistols.
The second week of the exercise
consisted of close quarter battle
(CQB) with breaching techniques,
such as manual breaching, ballistic
breaching and explosive breaching.
Major Nathan Swindler, commander,
Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 10th
SFG (Airborne), said he was able
to gain a firsthand appreciation for
the BDFSF’s selfless service to their
nation.
Also during week two, US Special
Forces received training on the theory
and practical application of combat
tracking led by the BDFSF.
The final week of Eastern Piper
included a visit by the US Ambassador
for Botswana, the US Secretary of the
Army, and the BDF Assistant Chief of
Staff for Training and Doctrine. After the
visit, the US Special Forces and BDFSF
conducted a combined parachute jump
from a BDF C-130 aircraft.
Major Jason Farmer, foreign area
officer for the Office of Security
Cooperation (OSC), US Embassy
Gaborone, Botswana, said these
military-to-military events are the key
to building mature partnership and
capacity between our two nations’
militaries.
GRIPEN FIGHTER
WEAPONS SCHOOL TO
BE FORMED IN SOUTH
AFRICA
Saab and the South African Air Force
intend to open a Gripen Fighter
Weapons School in South Africa
before the end of 2013. Staffed by
Swedish and South African instructors,
the weapons school will provide
invaluable interoperability training
for a select, annual group of pilots
in ground attack and other specialist
weapons and tactics available to
Gripen systems. In a presentation
by Saab in Sweden this month, the
outline for the school is as follows:
07
 SITREP

the proposals for the future are:

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operate Gripens
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Sweden and Thailand for alternative
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topics, like AA gunnery & EW
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pilots, beginning in October 2013 if
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topic, such as long-range strike, and
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portion to teach the theory of each
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training flights, in night and day
conditions, with live ordnance used
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from SwAF and SAAF
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some lectures
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for the duration of each course.
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in activities ranging from painting of
provide any other assets needed for
training, such as Hawk Mk.120 LIFTs
for aggressor/opfor, radar sites,
ground-based threats (e.g. SAMs),
SA Navy ships, etc.
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dedicated FWS facility containing
lecture halls, briefing rooms, etc.
08
“That said, as of writing States, in terms of a dedicated
weapons school for a specific platform.
in mid-July, the SANDF That said, as of writing in mid-July,
have explicitly denied the SANDF have explicitly denied any
involvement with Saab on the FWS,
any involvement with nor of its basing in Overberg AFB. To
Saab on the FWS, quote the SANDF Defence Corporate
Communications, the “suggestion
nor of its basing in therefore that such a school will be
Overberg AFB. To established is devoid of truth.”
quote the SANDF Source: D. Olivier (Avcom.co.za)
Defence Corporate SA ARMY SUPPORTS
The SA Army came out in full force
‘suggestion therefore in support of Mandela Day and on
that such a school Wednesday 18, July 2012 the soldiers
flexed their muscles to paint, weed,
will be established is pick up rubbish and donate with an
devoid of truth.’” open hand.
Various units in the SA Army engaged
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support systems, briefing tools and schools, done by 44 Parachute Regt,
whatever else is needed. amongst others, donations of clothes,
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food and toys to various children’s
Overberg and Denel OTB will be homes and charitable organisations
used. (conducted by numerous Battalions
and units throughout South Africa) and
Future Plans: general support of the communities in
If this project is successful, some of which the servicemen are based.
African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012
 INDUSTRY NEWS

INDUSTRY
NEWS
Developments in the sector

AFRICA INDUSTRY NEWS

ATA INTERNATIONAL
BECOMES A
STANDALONE ENTITY
Emergency medical course facilitation
specialist ATA International has split
from its sister company Action Training
Academy South Africa.
ATA International - one of only two
South African companies to offer cross
border, specialised remote site and
emergency medical training courses to
the oil and gas, mining, construction
and military industries - has split from
its sister company Action Training
Academy South Africa (ATA SA) to ATA have signed a five year contract with the Namibian Defence Forces.
become a standalone entity.
The turnover from the international
division of ATA was high enough
to warrant the split between the months. These new additions will assist deployed during operations in Burundi.
international and South African division, the company to be more focused on Temporary base accommodation
which focuses on the local market in the the roles at hand and provide a more has progressed a long way from the
field of basic health and safety training. refined service offering to clients. canvas hip tents of the 20th century.
Another key area that ATA International Highly-flammable, low-durability
will now focus on is the military sector. RCS BUNDLES OUT 50 tenting has been replaced by modular
The company has just signed a five year MAN CAMP PVC configurations which enable
contract with the Namibian Defence Redeployable Camp Systems, a South an easily-assembled complex of
Force to train soldiers in emergency African supplier of mobile camp and barracks, ablutions, mess, medical,
medicine and is also in negotiations semi-permanent accommodation and many other facilities per the client’s
with another two African countries facilities for both civilian and defence specifications.
to provide medical training for their sectors, has recently opened up its Completely containerised, the systems
defence forces. premises to showcase a current order can be air, land, or sea-transported with
Over the past three months, ATA bound for a mining company in Africa. minimal logistics complications. Rapid
International’s Johannesburg based RCS currently supplies a large portion redeployment of the system also allows
head office has grown from three to of the South African National Defence for the movement of the camp to new
eight members, with the prospects of Force’s mobile camping requirements. locations in short order. When combined
two new additions over the next six This included an order for troops with fortifications and various camp-

African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012 09

 INDUSTRY NEWS
RCS’ camp layout for the South African MRS
specific security measures, the end
result is a drastic improvement upon
the traditional military camp, which
allows for a relatively high standard
of accommodation and, ultimately, a
higher level of sustained operations in
the field.
Major projects have included the large
UK Military Camp Bastion in Afghanistan,
the largest British base in Afghanistan.
Additionally, RCS have provided a
150 man redeployable camp for the
South African Navy’s Maritime Reaction
Squadron. Notable in this provision
was the inclusion of many specialised
services unique to a Maritime Reaction
team. For example, the close proximity
to the ocean necessitated the need for
desalination modules to be added into
the camp design, as well as, literally,
a mobile boat workshop, all of which
remains highly mobile and suitable for
storage in containers.
The traditional alternative to a tented
camp was to erect large semi-permanent
structures, which costs almost the entire
initial capital investment to dismantle
and re-use. The advantages of storing
and redeploying highly-flexible camp
configurations are especially important
in Africa. Where low-intensity conflicts
can range across large regions and
even across countries, rapid movement
of large military forces into other areas
can greatly assist in denying freedom
of movement to the enemy. Likewise,
rapidly-deployed clinics and medical
10
“RCS currently
supplies a large
portion of the South
African National
Defence Force’s
mobile camping
requirements...”
facilities enable a swift provision of
high quality medical care to locals and
personnel alike.
NIGERIAN DEFENCE
INDUSTRY KICKS INTO
HIGH GEAR
In early July the Nigerian Defence
Industry saw significant production and
acquisitions come to the fore. On the
maritime front, Nigeria has confirmed
the purchase of six maritime patrol
craft valued at a total of more than
$18 million. Included in this are at least
three Manta ASD littoral warships, to
The Nigerian-made Proforce Pf1
be constructed by the multinational
Suncraft Group.
July also saw the unveiling of an
indigenous Nigerian Armoured
Personnel Carrier (APC), the Proforce
Pf1. Constructed by Nigerian company
Proforce, the APC is a multi-variant 4x4
vehicle with total capacity (including
crew) of 10 personnel. It comes
standard with a 7.62 mounted machine
gun (Presumably a GMPG or similar
variant).
Finally, the unveiling of a ballistic
armour factory between joint venture
Defence Industries Corporation of
Nigeria (DICOM) and Israeli Marom
Dolphin Nigeria Limited. The factory
was opened by Nigerian President
Goodluck Jonathan, during which
he strongly encouraged this as the
starting point of a new Nigerian
defence industry.
DICON remains Nigeria’s sole
licensed weapons manufacturer, but
still endures chronic funding and
government support. The creation of
a ballistic armour factory (along with
ballistic textiles manufacturing) could
contribute towards bolstering the
image of DICON and the Nigerian
defence industry as a whole.
MOROCCO BUYS AIM-9X
SIDEWINDER
The Kingdom of Morocco and the U.S.
government executed a letter of offer
and acceptance (LOA) to purchase
Raytheon’s AIM-9X Block II missile. The
Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) is
the world’s 10th country to employ the
AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided,
air-to-air missile and will be the fourth
country with the AIM-9X Block II.
The AIM-9X Block II adds a redesigned
fuse that offers a lock-on-after-launch
and datalink capability to the AIM-9X
Block I. The AIM-9X Block II missile
JT
JO
UIF
PQFSBUJPOBM
UFTUJOH
QIBTF

Raytheon is currently producing AIM-
9X Block II captive air training missiles.
Under the agreement, the U.S.
government will provide the RMAF
with an undisclosed quantity of tactical
and training AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder
missiles for Morocco’s F-16 fighter
aircraft.
African Armed Forces Journal | July 2012