Kim Helfrich is a Senior Writer for defenceWeb, a leading defense and security news platform focused on Africa. With a specialization in multinational affairs, Kim covers a wide range of topics including peacekeeping, military acquisitions, regional security, and geopolitical developments across the African continent.
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By: Kim Helfrich
December sees the world’s peacekeeping community gather in Africa for the first time to be part of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial in Ghana. Ahead of the 5 and 6 December event, UN Department of Peace Operations Under-Secretary Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor, point out 25% […]
The Simon’s Town-based Institute for Maritime Technology (IMT) recently showcased developments in capability and service, including artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), to top SA National Defence Force (SANDF) officials. Navy News reports the visit was an opportunity for personnel “involved in acquisition” to gain insight into current project investment as well as future […]
1 January is commencement day of withdrawal for the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where South Africa is the fifth largest troop contributing country (TCC). The withdrawal was made public in what MONUSCO (UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DRC) and the country’s government termed “a disengagement plan” late […]
The budgetary review and recommendations report (BRRR) of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) has nine recommendations for improving the well-being of Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise’s SA National Defence Force (SANDF). Additionally, the PCDMV report has six recommendations for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana as government’s holder of the purse […]
Conflict prevention and resolution along with public and human security were on the agenda late in November when the Support to Peace and Security Programme in the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Region (SPSP) met in Johannesburg. The one-day gathering, with input and financial support from the European Union (EU), monitors and evaluates the regional […]
By: Kim Helfrich
South African emergency medical operators working a North Kivu emergency medevac.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) was officially launched in October and was at least semi-operational since mid-2022. In that time it notched up 18 misconduct cases and “about eight officials have been sanctioned for dismissal”. That information was part of a wide-ranging briefing by BMA Chief Executive and Commissioner Michael Masiapato at the weekend. […]
The SA Navy (SAN) is going to sea in March with an offshore patrol deployment planned for the Kosi Bay/Mozambique coastline. The tasking was made public by Captain Aneliswe Tamela of SA National Defence Force (SANDF), Joint Operations KwaZulu-Natal headquarters, reporting on a maritime pre-deployment conference at the provincial tactical headquarters on 30 November. The […]
By: Kim Helfrich
Puma in UN white in MONUSCO service. Picture: MONUSCO. Delegates to the currently underway United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial in
A month’s work of patrolling mostly inhospitable terrain along South Africa’s land borders saw thinly spread SA Army regular and reserve soldiers net 607 illegal immigrants. In a break from past months when Mozambicans accounted for the highest number of foreigners stopped by soldiers working the border protection tasking, Operation Corona; in November it was […]
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