₦airaland Forum

Just look how South African-made arms fascinated Chinese to the extent that they even wanted to copy them.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?154657-China-attempts-to-copy-South-African-weapons-now

There is a huge difference between the equipments and riffles. In essence equipments and logistical support are far more bigger than what you have just shown now and translates to billions of dollars to acquire. Do you know how many of South African military equipments are in Burundi, Congo and Sudan and are no longer in our inventory, but that of UN amount to billions of dollars?

And read here;

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_987.html

Read what the Nigerian citizens say about Nigeria Army.

http://m.first-thoughts.org/on/Nigerian+Army/

What about this?

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser

What is $50 billion doing in reserve in foreign banks while there is this crisis?

Nigerian Army ill-equipped to fight terrorism, Boko Haram’

Written by Adebayo Waheed

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Monday, 11 June 2012

Participants at the Commanding Officers’ Workshop 2012 have identified ill-equipped and lack of adequately trained personnel for counter terrorism as reasons terrorist acts and Boko Haram insurgency continue unabated in the country.

The participants, drawn from the Nigerian Army formations across the country, in a communiqué issued at the end of the five-day workshop with the theme:"Enhancing the Capacity of Unit Commanders to meet Contemporary Challenges to the Nigerian Army" held at the 2 Division Headquarters, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo, Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday, stressed the need for focused training to effectively combat and subdue the Boko Haram menace since it had been identified as "a  threat the Nigerian Army was not adequately trained and equipped to handle."

They urged authorities of the Nigerian Army to focus on combined inter-agency training on internal security operations.

The communiqué, which was read on behalf of the participants by Colonel Taiwo Durowaye of 302 Artillery General Support Regiment, also identified terrorism as a phenomenon the army was not adequately trained and equipped to handle.

According to the communiqué, terrorism exists and operates successfully in Nigeria hence, a threat the Nigerian Army must confront by ensuring that units deployed for counter terrorism tasks are reinforced with at least a platoon of counter terrorist trained personnel for special operations.

To this end, the unit commanders were advised to cultivate mutual trust and camaraderie with other agencies operating in their respective formations.

The communiqué also highlighted the art of winning the hearts and minds of the local populace as an important factor in combating the current security challenges in the country.

It urged the commanding officers to maintain good civil-military relations with communities in their respective areas of operations to enhance information gathering and success in operations.

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-rim&hl=en&q=Nigerian%20Army%20is%20ill%20equipped%20to%20fight%20Boko%20Haram&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&channel=browser
I hope they are more than enough and speak of the same thing.

I don't know what will aguagust say about this, who is always ranting about Nigeria Army of never been defeated in War?

The Road To Somalia: Nigerian Army's Defeat In The Niger-Delta

July 16, 2009 - 00:00 — siteadmin

A few years ago, the American intelligence community took a hard look at Nigeria and predicted her demise.  At the time, the “Pharaohs” masquerading as leaders in Aso rock choose to play the Ostrich by burying their head in the sand. They lampooned the Americans for daring to state the obvious.  Yet, events since then have continued to validate the grim prognosis for Nigeria as predicted by the American intelligence community as the nation has increasingly been mired in crisis after crisis.

The ongoing Guerrilla warfare in the Niger-Delta represents some of the last acts in Nigeria’s final descent into the abyss. Not minding the noise about the offer of amnesty emanating from a crassly incompetent federal government, the reality remains that the Nigerian army now stands defeated in the Niger- Delta. More than anything else, the successful crippling of the oil industry and the extension of the attack to Lagos signals the defeat of the Nigerian army. The offer of amnesty is a face saving gesture from a defeated federal government and her infamous army. Knowing the true character of the Nigerian army whose only achievement in its entire history is the raping and massacre of unarmed Nigerians and the pillaging of whole communities, only the reality of defeat could make them offer an amnesty.

The defeat of the army is both welcome and predictable. It is an army that has never reflected professionalism, nor the finer virtues of soldiering; it is instead a vastly corrupt mediocre establishment that represents the narrow ethnic interests of the Northern oligarchy.  During the Biafra-Nigeria war, the Nigerian army in spite of a vast armada of limitless sophisticated weapons and superiority in numbers could not defeat a mostly unarmed, rag-tag Biafran Army for three years in full scale frontal (not guerrilla) conflict. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Nigerian army was on many occasions disgraced beyond belief by rag-tag rebels. A lazy, incompetent and politicised ethnic organisation that can hardly prevail in any battle, the Nigerian army also stands solely responsible for the injustices, marginalisation, domination, misrule and corruption that have brought the nation on the road to Somalia and inevitable disintegration.

Though the “Northern” army succeeded in deceiving the world and other non discerning Nigerians into helping them to fight for a so called “one Nigeria,” in reality the army which in the main represented and still represents the interests of the North never believed in Nigeria beyond the crude oil resources as events since the end of the war has proven. It should therefore come as no surprise that the same army has played the greatest role in the destruction of Nigeria. Since the end of the Biafra-Nigeria war, the Northern army  has subsequently unleashed a massive criminal looting  of the nations coffers,  erected an “ethnic cold war,” introduced  lopsided structures that favour  the North  and pursued outright policies of exclusion and domination that has created the cancer that is presently tearing down the nation. 

No nation founded on fraud, sustained by force rather than by mutual consent and premised on injustice can survive. All such nations have historically collapsed, and Nigeria inevitably stands in line to join the long list of such decapitated nations. Already ranked 15th in the list of failed states where she shamefully jostles for space with nations such as Afghanistan and Somalia, familiar sights of gun totting hoodlums randomly shooting on the streets of lawless Somalia will sooner become a permanent feature of the Nigerian landscape.

With the increasing availability of general purpose machine guns (GPMG), rocket propelled grenades, dynamites and the technology for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IED) amongst others, Nigeria has entered the fast track route to Somalia. It is the inevitable price of long years of rapacious Northern military and civilian misrule, injustice, arrogance, marginalisation, exploitation, monumental corruption and domination. Barring a miracle, it will not be too long before we render a requiem mass for a nation that only offered her supposed citizens penury, oppression and death.  Somalia here we come!

Comrade Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu

Email: lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com
http://mobile.saharareporters.com/article/road-somalia-nigerian-armys-defeat-niger-delta

agaugust: IT IS NOW VERY CLEAR THAT NIGERIA AS THE GIANT OF AFRICA IS HATED BY SOME OTHER AFRICANS WHO ENVY THE BIGGEST BLACK NATION ON EARTH....NIGERIA. IT IS A TRUE SAYING THAT GREATNESS WILL MAKE PEOPLE TO BECOME YOUR ENEMY. CAN EVERYBODY READ THE REACTION OF SOME OTHER AFRICANS TO THE POST I MACE ABOUT NIGERIAN INFANTRY HEROES OF AFRICA ? HATRED WITHOUT A REASON, HATRED AND ENVY AGAINST NIGERIA BY ITS OWN AFRICAN 'BROTHERS' WHOM SHE FOUGHT HARD TO FREE FROM WHITE MAN'S MODERN DAY SLAVERY AND BONDAGE OF OPPRESSION. BLACK MAN, BLACK HEART, WICKED HEART, EVIL HEART.

look here snydergp, i am sure you are not as educated and intelligent as past and present nigerian army chiefs of staff like general dambazau who has a PhD degree, or UN/ECOWAS/AU respected general agwayi who has a masters degree, or current army chief general ihejirika who is a chartered quantity surveyor, those generals have been trained in the best and most expensive military officers academy in USA, BRITAIN, GERMANY, INDIA, ISRAEL, ETC. they chose AK-47 because the general world consensus is that AK-47 is the most reliable comabt rifle for continuous firing in many hours of combat without jamming and for use in dusty and harsh terrain without requiring regular maintenance under battle field pressure.

nigeria today has $50 billion cash reserve in foreign banks, so if we want to but 1 million american M-16 rifles for our army we have the money.

we use what we want after many years of testing other assault rifles that we imported from europe into our armoury since year 1960 to 2012. no rife is perfect, all guns have advantages and disadvantages.

russia is the second most powerful military in the world and they still use AK-47 as standard military rifle. china is third ranked military power in the world and it still uses rifle developed from AK-47 and same does india which is the fourth most powerful military in the world.

nigerian made AK-47 is not the same as the original old type, it has been improved for more combat effectiveness. nigeria is not interested in south african made weapons because most of them have not been used by many countries in real war engagements and so their track record is not yet known, and the south africa that manufactures them does not engage in deadly combat since the bush war ended in 1988, the SANDF have been sitting down making hollywood movie style photos and videos to 'show' military 'capabilities' while they avoid the deadliest and bloodiest combat zones in africa.

you can hate nigeria or love nigeria, you cannot change it's greatness that God has blessed nigeria with. nigeria is born with greatness attached to its destiny.

Wrong- many countries ( Russia, China, India, etc) have moved away from standard AK47 and are now using type 56 assault riffles, which is the modified gas-operated copy of AK47 with a folded butt, resembling that of R4 and R5. Many African countries including Nigeria are still stuck to the old AK47. I am speaking this from experience that I had in DRC from Oct 2004-May2005 wherein were deployed with small contingents from Nigeria, India and Bangladesh ( majority of whom were MPs) and the former was using an old standard AK 47s while the latter (India and Bangladesh) were carrying the latest type 56. I know the truth hurts my friend, but what you have said is untrue. There is no way that Nigeria would ever modify AK 47 because you will never hear of that anywhere. Stop fabricating lies because Nigeria will still require licence to modify AK47 and it has to be done under public domain. I have never heard of any assault rifle ever made in Nigeria. You like it or not, this is the truth.

agaugust: IT IS NOW VERY CLEAR THAT NIGERIA AS THE GIANT OF AFRICA IS HATED BY SOME OTHER AFRICANS WHO ENVY THE BIGGEST BLACK NATION ON EARTH....NIGERIA. IT IS A TRUE SAYING THAT GREATNESS WILL MAKE PEOPLE TO BECOME YOUR ENEMY. CAN EVERYBODY READ THE REACTION OF SOME OTHER AFRICANS TO THE POST I MACE ABOUT NIGERIAN INFANTRY HEROES OF AFRICA ? HATRED WITHOUT A REASON, HATRED AND ENVY AGAINST NIGERIA BY ITS OWN AFRICAN 'BROTHERS' WHOM SHE FOUGHT HARD TO FREE FROM WHITE MAN'S MODERN DAY SLAVERY AND BONDAGE OF OPPRESSION. BLACK MAN, BLACK HEART, WICKED HEART, EVIL HEART.

look here snydergp, i am sure you are not as educated and intelligent as past and present nigerian army chiefs of staff like general dambazau who has a PhD degree, or UN/ECOWAS/AU respected general agwayi who has a masters degree, or current army chief general ihejirika who is a chartered quantity surveyor, those generals have been trained in the best and most expensive military officers academy in USA, BRITAIN, GERMANY, INDIA, ISRAEL, ETC. they chose AK-47 because the general world consensus is that AK-47 is the most reliable comabt rifle for continuous firing in many hours of combat without jamming and for use in dusty and harsh terrain without requiring regular maintenance under battle field pressure.

nigeria today has $50 billion cash reserve in foreign banks, so if we want to but 1 million american M-16 rifles for our army we have the money.

we use what we want after many years of testing other assault rifles that we imported from europe into our armoury since year 1960 to 2012. no rife is perfect, all guns have advantages and disadvantages.

russia is the second most powerful military in the world and they still use AK-47 as standard military rifle. china is third ranked military power in the world and it still uses rifle developed from AK-47 and same does india which is the fourth most powerful military in the world.

nigerian made AK-47 is not the same as the original old type, it has been improved for more combat effectiveness. nigeria is not interested in south african made weapons because most of them have not been used by many countries in real war engagements and so their track record is not yet known, and the south africa that manufactures them does not engage in deadly combat since the bush war ended in 1988, the SANDF have been sitting down making hollywood movie style photos and videos to 'show' military 'capabilities' while they avoid the deadliest and bloodiest combat zones in africa.

you can hate nigeria or love nigeria, you cannot change it's greatness that God has blessed nigeria with. nigeria is born with greatness attached to its destiny.

Wrong- many countries ( Russia, China, India, etc) have moved away from standard AK47 and are now using type 56 assault riffles, which is the modified copy of AK47 with a folded butt, resembling that of R4 and R5. Many African countries including Nigeria are still stuck to the old AK47. I am speaking this from experience that I had in DRC from Oct 2004-May2005 wherein were deployed with small contingents from Nigeria, India and Bangladesh ( majority of whom were MPs) and the former was using an old standard AK 47s while the latter (India and Bangladesh) were carrying the latest type 56. I know the truth hurts my friend, but what you have said is untrue. There is no way that Nigeria would ever modify AK 47 because you will never hear of that anywhere. Stop fabricating lies because Nigeria will still require licence to modify AK47 and it has to be done under public domain. I have never heard of any assault rifle ever made in Nigeria.

That was a clear evidence that South Africa does not have anything to do with outdated military equipment.

South Africa's helicopter gift for Mugabe

Fears have surfaced that retired military helicopters from the South African National Defence Force will be used to prop up Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF.



Zimbabwean soldiers take to the skies in an Alouette III chopper. (Aaron Ufumeli)

Craig McKune, Stefaans Brümmer

mg.co.za, Fri 25 Jan 2013 00:00 GMT+2

The South African National Defence Force is about to send a gift of helicopters and spares to its Zimbabwean counterparts, raising the spectre they will be used in a military-backed campaign to put President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party back in power in polls expected this year.

The Mail & Guardian has seen the confidential minutes of a meeting in Cape Town two months ago between defence chiefs of the two countries.

Under the heading "disposal of Alouette III helicopters and spares", the minutes noted that "the administrative processes in the SANDF have been finalised and the equipment will soon be handed over to the ZDF [Zimbabwe Defence Forces]".

The department of defence confirmed shortly before going to press that "all processes for the disposal have been completed and the airframes and spares are ready for dispatch to that country as a donation".

Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold elections by the end of March, although they are widely expected to be delayed for some months. Apprehension is building in civil society and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that the military will step in, as it did during the violent 2008 presidential run-off to save Mugabe.

The aged but versatile Alouette III, operated by the military in both countries since the 1960s, would be a force multiplier for the ZDF, providing fast access to rural areas.

Zimbabwe is under European and United States weapons sanctions, hampering its air force's efforts to keep its handful of Alouette III and Agusta-Bell light utility helicopters in the air.

Military meddling
The ZDF notoriously stepped in to back Mugabe in the 2008 presidential run-off after the MDC beat Zanu-PF in parliamentary elections. Operation waVhotera Papi (For whom did you vote?) reportedly involved a systematic, brutal crackdown on MDC supporters.

ZDF chief General Constantine Chiwenga openly backs Zanu-PF, and is alleged in media reports and by the MDC to be preparing a campaign to support Zanu-PF's election efforts and to have undermined the current unity government.

The minutes seen by the M&G appear to reflect the ZDF's disdain for power-sharing. The Zimbabwean delegation was quoted as reporting: "The smooth governing of the country remained untenable owing to divergent political ideologies of the political parties in the inclusive government."

The minutes are of the defence committee of the seventh session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, a standing bilateral body. Meeting at Cape Town's Mount Nelson Hotel between November 21 and 23, the committee was co-chaired by South African army chief Lieutenant General Vusi Masondo and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Lieutenant General Philip Valerio Sibanda.

Following allegations that his troops were campaigning for Zanu-PF in rural areas when elections were expected in 2011, Sibanda told the state-owned Herald newspaper: "We have troops in various parts of the country doing training and … assisting in various government departments like health and agriculture. It is unfortunate that we have some people who think that when they see army officers in a particular area ... they are undertaking political activities."

Acquisition spree
More recently, allegations surfaced of the military going on a vehicle shopping spree in anticipation of elections. The Zimbabwe Independent reported in November that the ZDF was buying about 1 000 Isuzu bakkies, complementing Zanu PF's acquisition of 550 cars, the latter "to ensure its officials and foot soldiers reach all corners of the country to mobilise voters".

The quantity of Aloettes airframes and spares to be handed to the ZDF could not be establishedthis week.

The South African Air Force retired its fleet of Alouette IIIs between 2005 and 2007, when they were replaced by Agusta light utility helicopters ordered in the arms deal. The defence department said in Parliament in 2008 that 17 Alouettes had been stripped of their guns and were for sale.

The Zimbabwe arms embargo is not binding on South Africa, because the Russians and Chinese vetoed a 2008 United Nations Security Council attempt to extend sanctions.

No permit
Exports of military hardware from South Africa must be sanctioned by the Cabinet's National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), chaired by Justice Minister Jeff Radebe. Radebe's spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, said the Alouettes and spares did not "fall within the NCACC's parameters of control" under its enabling legislation.

The NCACC is apparently relying on the classification of the helicopters as "civilian" after their guns were stripped out, though both the giver and the recipient are military.

Modise decided
The defence department on Thursday defended the donation, saying that it stemmed from "a decision that was taken by the former and first minister of defence, Joe Modise, in 1997 when [the Alouettes] were being phased out. How the donation of the spares to the ZDF relate to the forthcoming elections in that country is difficult to understand.

"The SANDF would like to place it on record that it has a bilateral agreement with the Zimbabwe Defence Force and a number of exchanges in various fields between the two defence forces have taken place and will continue."

Zimbabwe army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphious Makotore asked for questions to be physically presented to Colonel Overson Mugwisi based at Zimbabwe Defence House in Harare. For safety reasons, the M&G's Harare correspondent did not do this.

MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said on Thursday his party was aware of a plot to beef up the military before elections in support of Mugabe.

"The military chiefs have already stated their objectives and who they will back for president.

"In our respectful view the military is political and it is evident that it will neither respect the views of the people, nor recognise an MDC victory in the coming election." – Additional reporting by M&G Harare correspondent

A legend of the skies

The Alouette III helicopter, which has flown Southern African skies for more than half a century, is a utilitarian machine, known for its durability and affectionately called the draadkar, or "wire car" – a comment on its not very fetching appearance.

Developed by the French in the late 1950s, the Alouette debuted in both the South African and Rhodesian militaries in 1962.

Over the next two decades, the South African Air Force purchased 118 of them, and the Rhodesian Air Force Alouette fleet grew to an estimated 47. When the South African fleet was being retired in 2007, SAAirforce.co.za effusively described it as "a legend in the South African Air Force. Doing all it was asked and more, this amazing helicopter served for 44 years and the fleet flew more than 346 000 hours.

"The Alouette III will be remembered for its durability in the challenging African environment ... It was loved by its pilots and crew, feared by its enemies and regarded as a saviour by those it rescued from a mountain ledge or a flood-devastated area."

Among the many missions over the decades, South Africa's Alouettes were used in the Angolan and Rhodesian bush wars, alongside Rhodesia's machines in the latter case.

Zimbabwe used them during the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1998 and 2003. A number were reportedly shot down or written off. President Robert Mugabe's forces were left hungry for spares. But the arms embargoes made replacements hard to come by. – Craig McKune

Henry120: Damn, you silly excuse for a human being. I could not careless whatever you are, hell, I did not ask you what you are. Retard......

It's a matter of choice you foo.l, if a past president wants to receive medical attention abroad, that's of his choice, not because of the health system you toad. 70% of your population live in shacks, slums. Animals at kruger national park, live better than 70% of south africans. Who go about raping people, thinking that would change their sexual orientation. South africans be walking around with highest number of people living with hiv/ aids. You bast..ard child.

Your stupid president believes taking your bath after having un protected se.x with an hiv patient prevents you from contacting HIV. How dumb is that. You are as fooli..sh as your president.

You are a cheap worthless DOG. Like I said earlier I do not care what you call the sub standard rifle. You poorly nurtured child. Fuc....k..tard

You should learn how to control your temper because such an outburst will bury you six feet under the ground. I will suggest we keep to the topic and desist from being derailed to other topic such as infrastructure. I read you wrote that 70% of South African live in shacks, how could you stoop so low my fellow African? knowing well that there is no African country that can compete with SA in Africa in terms of infrastructure. South Africa is the only government in Africa that builds low cost houses for its citizens on a large scale free of charge. South Africa is so developed that infact it is now categorised as the mixture of developed and developmental state (hybrid) by the world bank. I know this will make you very confused. America might be considered developed but still it has many ghettos and informal settlements. Gauteng and Western cape in South Africa if they were both considered to be two separate countries they would have been declared developed states. Education and Health system are mainly two concepts that play a major role in determining the developmental state of one country.

Henry120: My friend keep quite and stop running around nairaland peddling lies. Who told you the R-5 is better than the AK-47/74/AKM which the nigerian army use. The AK is still amongst the world best assult rifle, when an enemy gets hit by an AK round, he stays down unlike the M-4 round.

The R-5 is a hand me down, cheap copy of the Israeli galil. The Israeli galil rifle which is made based on the design of the ak-47. If nigeria wanted to we could have made another cheap copy, but unlike you south africans we choose to go the honourable part. We make the AK-47/74/AKM under licence right here in nigeria.

Tactical weapons, weapons for special forces are widely used in nigeria, the best modern rifles. The TAVOR-21(macro) is used by the navy, army and airforce special forces.
The SSS/DSS & NIA( secret service) use TAVOR-21, FN F200, FN P-90 and the new isreali UZI PR0(PDW)

The police anti-terror team and VIP protection team use a brand new AK rifle, all black( I can't remember the name)

Modern tactical rifles and snipers are widely used in nigeria, however the main infantry rifle is the ak-47/ 74 / AKM, the world's dependable rifle. There is no need for us to get sub standard south african R-5 rifle. So keep these your photos in your dustbin in durban.

You are such a big headed fool who is still stuck to the past. AK 47/74/AKM are dinosaurs kind of assault riffles and are no match to R4 and R5. There are no any modern armies in first world countries that still use such nonsense. Such antique rubbish are still being used predominantly by poor armies in Africa and many rebel groups. AK47 or so to say Russian made, has many weaknesses, being;
1. It encounters many stoppages in operation.
2.At night it exposes you easily to the enemy because of its flesh and sound.
3. Does not have many accessories that can be mounted on it.
4. Does not have a wire cutter
5. You cannot use it underwater
6. Does not have a flesh hider on the tip of its barrel to be used safely at night without being identified.
7. Its not accurate.
R4 and R5 have all the above mentioned advantages, that's why they're referred to as the modern assault rifles that suit all the requirements to be used by first world countries.

Blyss: In regard to SA, as the supposed and self claimed military and economic giant of Africa, why are they not answering the Malian call for military Aid, why didn't they come to help Liberia, or Sierra Leon?

My friend we believe that African problems must be solved by Africans and on the same breath, regional problems ( eg. Ecowas, SADC ) must be solved by countries in that particular region. Do you want South Africa to be accused of playing superpowers by AU? No, that is not the best way possible to intervene in Mali. We are not NATO forces who just intervene without appropriate authorisation, in actual fact, Nigeria and Ghana as prominent countries in that region should be the first to intervene.

Do you know that by the year 1987, more than 10 000 Cubans were killed in Angola?

10,000 Cubans Reported Killed in Angola War

June 16, 1987⁠|⁠Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Cuban general who defected to the United States last month has told U.S. officials that 10,000 Cuban troops have been killed in Angola since 1976, according to senior Administration officials.

The estimate by Brig. Gen. Rafael del Pino Diaz is the first authoritative figure the United States has received on Cuban casualties in Angola, but the officials said it was roughly the same as American calculations.

Over the years, the Havana government has kept a tight hold on information about casualties in Angola, never referring to the subject publicly.

If the estimate of Del Pino is accurate, it would mean that Cuban losses in Angola are proportionately much higher than American fatalities in Vietnam. There were slightly more than 50,000 U.S. servicemen killed in Vietnam, but the U.S. population is about 22 times the size of Cuba's.

Jonas Savimbi, leader of the U.S.-backed anti-Communist rebels in Angola, said last year that the number of Cuban dead in Angola totaled 6,200 as of 1984.

Because of the absence of diplomatic relations with Angola's Marxist government, U.S. information about developments there has always been fragmentary, and officials have been hopeful that Del Pino would provide them with a full account.

A decade ago, Del Pino reportedly served as chief of the Cuban air and anti-aircraft forces in Angola.

Del Pino fled Cuba aboard a twin-engined Cessna 402 with his wife and three children May 28, and shortly thereafter the family was flown to a secret location in the Washington area.

The formal debriefing of Del Pino began a week ago after a 10-day rest period. Much of the early questioning of the former Cuban general has focused on the Cuban presence in Nicaragua, according to the officials, who insisted on anonymity.

On arrival at Key West Naval Air Station, Del Pino is said to have told U.S. officials that he defected because he believed the Cuban revolution was leading the country to ruin.

Cuba's military presence in Angola has fluctuated over the years and is now believed by U.S. officials to be at a high point of 37,000. Cuban troops were initially sent to Angola in the mid-1970s to help that country's defend itself against military attacks by South Africa.

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-06-16/news/mn-7734_1_del-pino

http://www.rhodesia.nl/cuito.htm

http://m.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1988/08/cuba-havanas-military-machine/305932/

agaugust: Msauza, if your brain is working correctly, read this post or else you will be like the same mentally sick 'so called nigerian' man whose name shows he is from the biafran igbo tribe that nigeria defeated in the civil war, now he is an unknown man in nigeria, a strange name in nigeria that nobody knows, now writes a book we never saw publicly in nigeria, and msauza being a man with low level intelligence believes that book saying nigeria never won any war, and goes to post that for people to read here, instead of posting truths from publicly available sources that we can all click a weblink and read all over the world...msauza please go back to school as i dont think you ever finished a university degree where they will teach you how to do project research and quote fair, honest and publicly available sources.....i quoted thabo mbeki as an ex prsident of south bafrica the whole world knows him and i quoted public information wikipedia to prove south africa was almost defeated by cuba in the bush war before south africa called for peace talks.

every time i quote that wikipedia public information that says south africa called for peace talks because they fear cuba was almost winning the war, syngergp and msauza go mad and their head is blown up into pieces by the truth, and they lose the ability to co-ordinate their mental thinking faculties in a logical reasoning manner, then they start talking like children who have a 5 year old brain.

here is proof that nigeria won biafran war clearly, i post the world recognized surrender speech of biafra republic and i post ttwo weblinks for every man who has a brain that works well to read and confirm :

On the 10th January 1970, Lt. Col. Ojukwu, the self proclaimed Head of State of Biafra, on realizing the total chaotic and hopelessness of the situation, handed over to the Commander Biafran Army Maj. Gen. Phillip Effiong, the administration of Biafra and flew out of the enclave with his immediate family members in search of peace. Maj. Gen. Effiong consulted with the Biafra Strategic Committee on the situation and they decided that enough was enough and that the only honorable way out was to surrender. In his surrender announcement to the people of Biafra on Radio Biafra, part of Maj. Gen. Effiong address said:

Fellow Countrymen,

As you know I was asked to be the officer administering the government of this republIc on the 10th of January, 1970. Since then I know some of you have been waiting to hear a statement from me. Throughout history, injured people have had to result to arms in their self defense where peaceful negotiation have failed. We are no exception. We took up arms because of the sense of insecurity generated in our people by the events of 1966. We have fought in defense of that cause. I am now convinced that a stop must be put to the bloodshed which is going on as a result of the war. I am also convinced that the suffering of our people must be brought to an end. Our people are now disillusioned and those elements of the old regime who have made negotiations and reconciliation impossible have voluntarily removed themselves from our midst. I have, therefore, instructed an orderly disengagement of troops.

I urge on Gen. Gowon, in the name of humanity, to order his troops to pause while an armistice is negotiated in order to avoid the mass suffering caused by the movement of population. We have always believed that our differences with Nigeria should be settled by peaceful negotiation. A delegation of our people is therefore ready to meet representatives of Nigerian Government anywhere to negotiate a peace settlement on the basis of OAU resolution.

Part of Maj. Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the Head of the Federal Government's speech to accept formally the declared surrender and the end of the civil war read:

Citizens of Nigeria,

It is with a heart full of gratitude to God that I announce to you that today marks the formal end of the civil war. This afternoon at the Doddan Barracks, Lt. Col. Phillip Effiong, Lt. Col. David Ogunewe, Lt. Col. Patrick Anwunah, Lt. Col. Patrick Amadi and commissioner Police, Chief Patrick Okeke formally proclaimed the end of the attempt at secession and accepted the authority of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. They also formally accepted the present political and administrative structure of the country. This ends thirty months of a grim struggle. Thirty months of sacrifice and national agony.

The world knows how hard we strove to avoid the civil war. Our objectives in fighting the war to crush Ojukwu's rebellion were always clear. We desired to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Nigeria. For, as one country, we would be able to maintain lasting peace amongst our various communities; achieve rapid economic development to improve the lot of our people; guarantee a dignified future and respect in the world for our posterity and contribute to African unity and modernization. On the other hand, the small successor states in a disintegrated Nigeria would be victims of perpetual war and misery and neo - colonialism. Our duty was clear. And we are today, vindicated.

The so - called "Rising Sun of Biafra" is set for ever. It will be a great disservice for anyone to continue to use the word "Biafra" to refer to any part of the East Central State of Nigeria. The tragic chapter of violence is just ended. We are at the dawn of national reconciliation. Once again we have the opportunity to build a new nation. On our side, we fought the war with great caution, not in anger or hatred, but always in the hope that common sense would prevail. Many times we sought a negotiated settlement, not out of wickedness, but in order to minimize the problems of reintegration, reconciliation and reconstruction. We knew that however the war ended, in the battlefield or in the conference room, our brothers fighting under other colors must rejoin us and that we must together rebuild the nation anew. All Nigerians share the victory today. The victory for national unity, victory for hopes of Africans and black people everywhere. We mourn the dead heroes. We thank God for sparing us to see this glorious dawn of national reconciliation. We must seek His guidance to do our duty to contribute our quota to the building of a great nation, ounded on the concerted efforts of all its people and on justice and equality. A nation never to return to the fractious, sterile and selfish debates that led to the tragic conflict just ending.

The Federal Government has mounted a massive relief operations to alleviate the suffering of the people in the newly liberated areas. We are mobilizing adequate resources to provide food, shelter, and medicines for the affected population. My government has directed that former civil servants and public corporation officials should be promptly reinstated as they come out of hiding. Details of this exercise have been published. Plans for the rehabilitation of self - employed people will also be announced promptly. We have overcome a lot over the past four years. I have therefore every confidence that ours will become a great nation.

The surrender paper was signed on 14th January 1970 in Lagos and thus came the end of the civil war and renunciation of secession.

CONFIRM BY CLICKING http://www.africamasterweb.com/BiafranWarCauses.html

ALSO PROVE IT BY A CLICK ON http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Effiong

msauza, reply to this post and let us see how intelligently, logically and analytically your brain works, because i will soon stop wasting my precious time on this topic talking to clearly dishonest and poorly educated school drop-outs like msauza and syndergp.

In a court of law you will never argue your case successfully. You want us to believe Mbeki but you don't want to believe what a Nigerian wrote about the Nigerian Army. I just only wanted to bring you closer to the conclusion that you should never believe everything that people say or write, irrespective of their position in society. Some of them are saying it in the light of gaining something out of it. Just as Mbeki did in his attempt of strengthening the ties between SA and Cuba. On contrary, did you expect Mbeki to lash out on Cuba of failing to defeat SA within a reasonable time despite having large number of troops deployed in Angola and messes up on diplomacy. I must admit Cuban forces played a major role in discouraging SA apartheid regime in its attempts to colonise the whole region, but the question is " how long did it take 50000 Cubans and alliances to stop about 3000 SA soldiers in Angola to retreat?". The answer is 23 years. Remember what sweet words SA used to apologise about the conflict that Nigeria and SA had about deportation of its citizens on account of yellow fever vaccination.

miky: Yeah by a white man who relocated after,, it's sad how many Africans would like to think its some miracoulous thing

Dr Barnard was a born and bread South African

By: Chike E Okafor

In his words of admission this is what he said;

Nigerian army has never won a war. Nigeria has been involved in many conflicts since its partial independence from Britain in October 1960. It has been involved in at least six major wars and it is sad to say that it has won none. That makes its standing or ratio if you will 0:6 statistically speaking.

The starting point was the Second World War. Almost all the Nigerian recruits entered the war in order to save Europe from Adolf Hitler and his Nazi menace in Europe. Those who went to the war were stationed in India, mainly in Bombay. The British does not trust the African soldiers nor were they comfortable having them fight with them in the killing of fellow white man. At that time in history, it was the biggest offense to kill a white man who was sacrilegiously regarded as closer to god. Secondly, killing or witnessing the killing of a white man would destroy the white fictitious belief of their race, thereby expose the fallibility of the white supremacist persona. The effect of a successful removal of colonialist mentality and oppression translate to economic demise for the colonial masters. In turn, this would drive the accelerated demand to decolonize.

If you want to read more follow click on the following address;

http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/barticles/biafran_war_and_nigerian_governm.htm

gst101: @agaugust. Thank you so much for standing gallantly with the spirit of Naija against these people especially syndergp and the ingnwi called msauza.

@musauza, if you dont have a satellite tv, you should have a tv with antenea. If you still dont have that, you should also have a transistor world reciever radio. But i am sure you have non of that no wonder you asked when was the last time we played a war game. Like agaugust told you, we dont do war games, we fight real wars. We have been fighting war even before independence when thw nigerian identity was non existent.

The question you asked, msauza, shows you've never been objective all these while.

Salute to the only soldier in here. Though,he has been against us, i think he knows what he is saying.

Gst101 you claim that I do not have a satellite TV, Lol!!!. I had it long time before the whole of Nigeria started having one. You seen to forget that the satellite TV that you are today watching in Nigeria is proudly South African with 100% local technology. I know that it is a luxury in Nigeria to own one, but here in South Africa is not, nowadays you even get it in shacks in SA townships or squatter camps.

During my studies in university, I happened to encounter this book which I will recommend to everyone for own indulgence to learn how poor equipped and bankrupt is Nigerian Army. I will now reveal every scandal that they have.

Bibliographic information



Title: The Nigerian army in crisis and emergency management in a democratic polity



Author: Olufemi Bolarin



Publisher: Reliable Covenant Concepts Company, 2005



Length: 238 pages


Subjects:

Social Science › Disasters & Disaster Relief

Emergency management
Nigeria

ISBN: 9780667946
9789780667948

Social Science / Disasters & Disaster Relief


Olufemi is an expect in social and military
Sciences and not some half cooked self-proclaimed professor like aguagust who parade as a fake military expect.

@ Agaugust

Who is Mbeki anyway? He was never even a guerrilla but a spoiled bread who was having a good life in five star hotels in London. Of course he is a member of the ANC and will speak in a language that will discredit the former regime, simply because the ANC was fighting on the Cuban side. Zuma was a real guerrilla and such a nonsense will never be uttered by his mouth, since he knew what a tough time they encountered in the hands of only 3000 apartheid soldiers. I repeat, unless there is something wrong with you upstairs, there is no source in the world that would ever claim that South Africa lost against Cuba. It will only be the illiterate Aguagust who will maintain such absurdity. I repeat myself I met people who fought in the bush war during my tenure in the Army. I joined the SANDF as an 18 years old boy through military skills and development programme (MSD) in 2003 in 3SAI Kimberley after which we were transferred to Army Gym Heidelburg, Gauteng post our basic training to commence with our leadership training, ie, NCO's and Officer's formative.

I was one of the luckiest to have been nominated as the future officer of SANDF and to commence with officer's formative course. I went on further to join the SA Army (Engineer Formation) to start with my corps training as a candidate officer (CO) learning about construction of alloy bridges, water purification, trenches, land mines, obstacles, etc. I went on to study further at military academy in Saldanha and on my return to my base in 2 field Engineers, Bethlehem, I was awarded with a star and become 2nd lieutenant where immediately had to undergo medical tests to be declared as G1K1 (Green) which is the code we use to show that you are fit for deployment. I deployed to DRC (MONUC) in Oct, 2004 in Goma after which we were transferred to various villages in the DRC in the likes of Beni, Kisanganyi, Luberu, Bunya, Kindu and some I cannot remember.

On my return, my parents did not wish me to serve as a uniformed member of SANDF and suggested to me that I had to resign and go on to further my studies at University. I then tendered my resignation after having acquired some money from deployment and enrolled for a BA ( Political Science with law) Potchefstroom university. After having completed my studies, I received scholarship to further my studies in Law @ Wits University and was credited from the law modules that I already had in my Baccalaureate and completed my LLB within 3years. I was then employed in the department of labour as a Legal Adviser (Paralegal) and resigned later on to serve my 2yrs articles as candidate attorney in a law firm. I am just about to write my examinations this year in June to be admitted as an attorney in the High court of South Africa. I did not intend to bring this over, because I don't believe in self praise, but since I was relegated to the back seat, I had to bring it on.

The problem with agaugust is that is doing too much of selective reading and he only quote where the Cubans where seem to be on the upper hand. Read this;

The South African "Recces" were deployed to many local hot spots during the late 1970s and early 1980s, particularly Angola.

The main enemy then was South West Africa’s People Organization whose armed wing PLAN, was a guerrilla organization fighting for an independent Namibia.

One of the "Recces"' most effective operations came in 1982: Operation Mebos penetrated deep into Angola and destroyed the SWAPO Headquarters. In Operation Askari, in the winter of 1984, the "Recces" cut off almost all supply lines to and from the SWAPO in Angola. In 1985, a "Recce" team undertook the controversial Operation Cabinda, a failed attempt to sabotage Angolan oil installations run by Gulf Oil.

In early summer of 1985, another "Recce" team under the command of SADF Captain Andre Diedericks crossed into Angola’s Cuando Cubango province, and with UNITA's help, protection and escort was secretly deployed around Menongue area. The team had at their disposal the 9K31 “Strela-1” AA system manned and operated by the team members. Team’s mission was to carry out covert combat operations, code names "Catamaran 1," "Catamaran 2" and "Cerberus" with the goal to disrupt air traffic in Cuando Cubango province by shooting down air transports, combat aircraft and gunships using the AA system. On 11 June 1985, roughly 80 km from Menongue, the team shot down Angolan airplane, a light utility aircraft, Britten-Norman BN-2 “Islander”. The "Islander", en route from Menongue to Cuito Cuanavale with a crew of 2 and 5 passengers was also carrying 69 million kwanzas (Angola’s currency), several months of salary for FAPLA’s 16th Brigade’s personnel based in Cuito Cuanavale. When the "Islander" fell to the ground the money was stolen and the remains of the dead passengers had been pillaged by UNITA soldiers attached to protect the "Recce" team. On 25 November 1985, the same "Recce" team had also shot down an “Aeroflot” Antonov AN-12, cargo airplane. The AN-12 transport en route from Cuito Cuanavale to Luanda carrying 8 crew members and 13 passengers crashed approximately 43 km south-east of Menongue. All people on board (twelve Soviet and nine Angolan nationals) died in the crash.[2]

agaugust: andrewza talks good sense and i think he is the most serious, fair and honest among the 3 south africans here on this topic. msauza and syndergp dont talk with honesty and good intentions, all they want is to run down nigerian military which they dont know about in detail. any nigerian weapon i post here they say its bad, even if it is the latest technology in the world for that equipment you say its bad or you avoid comment on it. i wont follow what anybody else ranks, i will do my own based on what i know. even in USA where i work, i had to list newly acquired nigerian weapons for some white officers to assess, they dont feed their brain with african data because we are not a continent of military importance at world level.

dont just use your mouth msauza, use your thinking too, okay ? i dont want to sound rude but i can only respect you if you show good thinking. all this ranking we are doing will not earn us one dollar, naira or rands. we are just showing our interest in military affairs of africa, so if you rank south africa as number 1 and even overrate your military, it will not win you a war. when real war comes, your military will face reality and mouth talk and web posting propaganda will not defeat nigeria on battle field. remember the bush war south africa versus cuba, at the time the whole world highly rated south african military they did not win a war close to their homeland against a tiny country cuba that had to travel and fight 12,000 kilometers away from home. i have posted the proof of that war results here already last year december, you want me to repeat it again ?

nigeria has a perfect military success record in real wars not on paper list of equipment and photos and videos of weapons testing. biafra war with almost half a million soldiers fighting on both sides total combined figure, liberia war, sierra leone war, somalia war, sudan war, and today mali war. niegrian military never lost a war, nigerian military never retreated on any battlefield fontline.

south african military almost lost its only major war near homeland, and got a permanent damage to its national military pride. public records cannot be erased and the whole world knows this history facts. clean up your past military failure records, my dear south africa, and then we will rank you again maybe you move up or down the african rankings.

[b]experienced military analysts will not rate you too high because you manufacture and stockpile weapons but you dont engage in far away major combat and real bloody battlefield engagement with forces inside another country's territory the way nigerian military does almost every year for the past 20 years. yesterday we flew almost 1,000 infantry to mali to face rebels armed with ghaddafi's stolen heavy weapons and missiles, even france had to use latest rafale jets to stop the mali rebels last week. nigeria does not have grippen but we use what we have to test our true combat ability in war, not on paper list of equipment you store in your own the armoury. we are deploying our F-7 jets to mali for real live combat today world news confirmed it, and then msauza you ask me when last nigeria played war games? we dont just play hollywood movie type of games that south africa plays at home, nigeria moves into the most dangerious battles in african countries thousands of kilometers away form our home and we go there to die like true soldiers not military on paper that never fights real war and overrates itself as number 1 in africa.[/b]

msauza do you know how to think and be honest? if you do, then good indeed, but if not, thats your problem not mine. people who read your post and my posts will rate our brainwork and conclusions according to the way we argue our points.

use your south african military in real big scale war and let your soldiers die the way american soldiers died in thousands in iraq, and ethiopian soldiers died in thousands by the AK-47 of eritrean army, only then will the intelligent analysts and military experts who know war history can rank south africa if it truly deserve number one position. remember your bush war results, bad records you cannot erase. you had better french mirage jets in south african airforce and tiny cuba broke broke through your highly rated air defences with weaker russian mig jets to blow up the great caleuque hydryo dam right under the noses of south africa's highly rated military forces occupying the area....then your government called for ceasefire negotiations after that...and the cubans almost pincer formation your army to cut off south african flank guard and rear guard....then your government called for peace negotiations.....and you began to avoid major volatile war zones of death since that time over 20 years ago.

my friend people read your post and they read mine, the people have brains that work and they will judge intelligently. your personal opinion does not change the truth and facts publicly disclosed.

read this quote i extracted from public sources below :

"The area was of considerable strategic importance, providing the pretext for the initial 1975 South African military intervention in the Angolan Civil War when staff at the facility were threatened by guerrillas.[3] Full intervention through Operation Savannah followed shortly afterwards.

Throughout the Angolan Civil war Calueque remained continuously occupied by South African forces. In 1988, during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, the Cubans opened a second front against the South Africans and launched a massive ground offensive in the direction of Calueque. The area to the north of the dam became the scene of bloody fighting which proved to be a turning point in the war. On 27 June 1988, the South Africans retreated across the dam to Southwest Africa and the same day Cuban MiG-23 fighters attacked the facilities. The first wave of aircraft bombed the bridge and sluice gates, killing a soldier in the process. Another wave bombed the pump and generator, while a third destroyed the pipeline to Ovamboland. Significantly, one of the last bombs hit the position of eleven South African soldiers nearby who had exited their Buffel troop carrier to watch the events unfold. The dam and pipelines were considerably damaged, rendering the scheme inoperable"

The Calueque Dam and bridge has not been repaired since it was damaged in 1988"

the above information is available on web links with photos of south african dead soldiers coffins draped with national flags

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calueque

http://web.archive.org/web/20080120211559/http://uk.geocities.com/sasolboy/calueque.html

Hello!!! The self proclaimed professor of military, go and teach that to illeterate Nigerian youth. I have read more and met people who have fought in the border war or the so called bush war. South Africa never lost against Cuba and that's a fact. That is where I lost my respect for you because you reason with no sense. People who fought in that war are still today in the Army, that is the year 2013, so don't come and feed us lies. Only 3000 South African soldies fought against over 45000 Cuban and several thousands Angolans and still they failed to contain South Africa and cross the borders to topple the apartheid government. There are many people I know who are ex Umkhonto we sizwe affectionately known as MK which was the military wing of ANC, who fought in that war and confirmed that apartheid military forces were so amazing to the extent that Fidel Castro wanted to send more soldiers to fight against 3000 SA soldiers. To lose in war is when you are completely seiged and have to surrender. That's not what happened in SA, I was there waiting for those Cubans to cross the borders and demolish SA military installation and topple the apartheid government, so that we can get our freedom, but unfortunately that could not materialise as the SA recce brigade continued to kill Cubans in numbers and demolish their planes. There were few SAfricans who died in war as compared to thousands of Cubans and SADF contained them right in Angola with only 3000 personnel.

The truth must be told SA never lost against any country and besides Nigeria fought in civil wars against countries which are so destitute. The question is why they did not challenge the apartheid government during the good olden days. You post weapons of other countries and we are not interested, show us what Nigeria have and not weapons of other countries. Nigerian Army which cannot even contain Boko Haram is suddenly a match to SANDF, in your dreams. You can ask the whole world and surely you will get the truth that Nigeria does not rank above us in military. Furthermore a Nigerian will never teach us about our history concerning the Bush war. History that we lived, studied at school level to tertiary and still continue to see people who participated in that war. We do not rely on internet to give us answers like what Aguagust does.

agaugust: yes that is true talk you said, i know for many years ago that south africa has best mobile artillery in the world. i dont have every details of the nigerian gunships but i know they are new deliveries first squadron about 2007, second squadron 2013-2014. i dont want to research every detail of every nigerian weapons one by one, i wont get paid for the research job and the military HQ will never give me details, only friends in officer cadre give me information, and i dont want to start making them suspect me of spying for american CIA against nigeria, they know i work with an american private company that is into military consultancy business in the USA. i have to be careful how ask them details that they dont give the public, we have a very secretive military doctrine from old school britain.

i want to make a post tomorrow, no one should be offended because i need to reply syndergp comments on old nigerian weapons, the post is specially for him to read when i do it tomorrow. after that i will ask why nobody has accepted my challenge to play war games and show example of how nigeria versus south africa war will end after full combat, even though i am of the opinion that it will end in a stalemate of no winner no loser, africa's most bloody and endless war, and a foolish war too. millions of peple will die for no good reason.

Since when did Nigeria do war games? Nigerian military is down and out my friend, it was even mentioned last year all over the media that their military is in crisis and needs refurbishment. Nigerian military secretive tendencies are for a purpose of not being exposed. Well, they do have plenty of weapons though, but they are just average and not as heavy as compared to the few advanced and heavy ones that South African military have. It is an indisputable fact that SA ranks no:1 in terms of the most technologically advanced military in Africa. The Globalfirepower has updated their website for the year 2013 and it was for the very first time in their history to recognise Nigeria.

According to their latest rankings, South Africa and Nigeria were in position 3 and 4 respectively, but I personally do not agree with this, since their rankings were so biased and mainly based on fleet and number of personnel that one country has in relation to another and failed to take into consideration the modern way and technology that one military uses. I say it again a small country that uses advanced technology of heavy weapons of mass destructions against a populous country that uses average fire will undoubtedly win the war. Same as the country that has thousands of useless military fleet, outdated equipment and million poorly trained personnel. It is a well proven fact that technology helps you win the war with only few well trained personnel against millions, remember the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Though the use of atomic and nuclear weapons no longer allowed because when such bombs are landed in Nigeria they will affect civilians and countries which were not in conflict in the likes of Ghana, Niger, Cameroon and all the neighbouring countries due to radiation, albeit technology has helped to come with something equivalent and admissible. When it comes to manufacturing of bombs, South Africa is one of the top countries that manufacture most dangerous bombs in the world. Whether you like it or not we supply the likes of Europe, South American, Asia and some even to US. Go and make that research

South Africa is not a play my friend when it comes to military technology, we might be unfairly ranked lowest in Africa because of our limited yet powerful equipments. I do not believe that even the most respected Egypt in Africa will ever defeat us. Sadam Hussain's Irag used South African military technology for many years that helped him to contain America which led to Bush (the first) to retreat.

agaugust: Nigeria does not have the privilege of long white rule and transfered european military technology that the south africans got up to 1990 from the apartheid white regime who built that country to their own standard with the believe that they will live there and rule south africa for ever.

Despite having to work on our own from 1960, we were alone 30 years earlier than south africa, and the british pulled out of our military totally, left us no heavy weapons and zero air force, unlike south africa that inherited all the white apartheid weaponry 100% and still uses the white military officers. Despite that, Nigeria has achieved these :

Nigeria has successfully and safely operated a Nuclear Research Reactor (NIRR-1) at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Zaria (CERT) since 2004, and plans to build 3 nuclear reactors with russian assistance. Big lie we told the world is civilian use, big truth the secretive nigerian military hide is both civil and military nuclear programme, until IAEA raise eyebrow when the inspect what the russians are building now in nigeria's nuclear reactor on abuja's semi-desert area.

Nigerians and british engineers jointly built 1 of our 3 satellites now in space orbit for civil and military use

Nigerian airforce locally 100% built UAV's amebo-1, amebo-2, and now developing amebo-3 unmanned air drones for military air recce.

Nigeria defence industry locally 100% manufactures assualt rifles, RGP, GP machine guns, mortars and amoured personnel carriers at the DICON in kaduna city, we also produce all the ordinance/munitions for the weapons.

Nigerian airforce locally 100% manufactured remote controlled armoured robot tracker for land mines and bomb disposal

Nigerian navy dockyard in lagos locally 100% manufactured NNS Andoni an OPV now sailing in our navy

i have metioned the 7 key factors that are required to do correct military power ranking among nations.

after weapons inventory and manpower quality assessment, you move forward to what soldiers call military simulation which civilians call war games. you have to play the war games to know which country will likely win the war. i challenge anyone to play a war game between nigeria and south africa for the public to read on this website and justify his power rankings.

i will help with a bonus tip, war games use tactics, strategies and doctrice to profer solutions to combat engagement results, simulation (war games) are either heuristic simulations or stochastic simulations. any of the commentators on this site who has the technical ability can go ahead and display his war game.

zimbabwe and kenya did not make my list, because their heavy weapons are too few. numbers matter in war, because it produces overwhelming force which is not easy to defend against, the enemy begins to open up many different battle frontlines and it will stretch a smaller more modern force to break into units or else they become encircled in a pincer attack formation (i am already playing a strategic war game here).

this is the reason why american forces despite having more sophisticated weaponry, had to land in iraq in large massive numbers of men and equipment to contain the large and massive iraqi military. the americans learned this military lesson from korean war of 1950-1953 in which the american army had to retreat when china entered the war zone with its large army and tried to pincer attack the amrican army. the USA never won the war in korea, they pulled out. you cannot easily win a war with few year 2000 weapons when the enemy out-numbers you with very many year 1990 weapons on a ratio as much as 10:1, especially in land or sea engagements, but air combat may be a different ball game because of mutiple AAM target tracking, but if my Mig 29 carries 5 AAM and i shoot down 5 out of 10 enemy Mig 23, how will i face the remaining 5 Mig 23 jets whose pilots are not fools? and they are all attacking me from 12 o'clock-3 o'clock-6 o'clock-9 o'clock and rear afterburner positions all at the same time? i have played another tactical war game here.

the nigeria military is an outdated force that lacks firepower, the nigerian military is well equipped for modern warfare and no country in africa has better officers and men, not even egypt or south africa. the egyptians have superior weapons i agree, but not superior men. nigerian military trains with only the best in the world and we dont usually publicize all these continous and very expensive training operations with the americans, british, germans, and indians. we train with different super power nations who have fought great wars and we learn the art of warfare from them every year, we have the money and we pay for it, very expensive to do.

any african country apart from egypt and algeria, that thinks it can over-run nigeria in military combat is joking. it will meet an unexpexted defence force and pay the price of under-estimating nigerian military. good military generals dont just attack, they estimate the enemy wholistically, that means all the aspects of the enemies military capacity will be considered to determine if it can be defeated otherwise you enter into a stalemate war like iran-iraq in 1988. we cannot just pick just some special weapons in a country's arsenal to judge who will defeat who. we have to consider all aspects of war as military analysts can think.

when you list weapons inventory and the other of the 7 factors, you have to do military simulation or else your rankings will be wrong. good weapons dont stand up and fight by themselves and win a war, generals have to marshall them, all weapon units and all weapon systems have to be pitched against the enemy in a battlefield simulation before you can judge who is likely to win after all types of medium to heavy weapons have been used for some weeks of full scale combat.

military simulation is technical, any one capable of playing a nigeria vs south africa war game, please go ahead for the public to read, marshall the weapons from heavy first and then to medium, that is the way forces usually engage. you may ignore light weapons from mortars to rifles, those will waste time.

any body ready for this challenge ? thank you

@agaugust- with all the equipment you have displayed, they are still no match to what we have in South Africa. You have made me go down with laughter when you mentioned that special forces brigade is something new in Nigeria. This is evident that Nigerian military is limping 50 good years behind the SANDF. In terms of military technological developments you are still like a new born baby in that department as compared to what SA has achieved technologically without any foreign assistance, you will even want to write a book.

@agaugust- with all the equipment you have displayed, they are still no match to what we have in South Africa. You have made me go down with laughter when you mentioned that special forces brigade is something new in Nigeria. This is evident that Nigerian military is limping 50 good years behind the SANDF. In terms of military technological developments you are still like a new born baby in that department as compared to what SA has achieved technologically without any foreign assistance, you will even want to write a book.

This is what a fellow Naija posted on NL;

Harjibode: Here is some valid information due to
recent estimations and studies.
1. South Africa: South Africa (South Africa
has the most powerful army in Africa; it
has more harmful weapons than any
other country in Africa; it is the only
African country that was trying to create
the Nuclear weapon but was stopped by
the US. The South African National
Defence Force (SANDF) this includes:
South African Army, South African Navy,
South African Air Force and South African
Military Health Service. South Africa has
recently lower their budge on army from
$7.21 billion 2003 to nearly $4 billion
2011. Trained by Israeli, and British,
South African solders are more armed
and more trained than any other
country's soldiers.
2. Egypt: According to recent study, Egypt
is considered to be the second most
powerful country in Africa. For many
years Egypt has been the first strongest
country in the continent of Africa. With
number of troops exceed that of South
Africa, and more suppliers from countries
such as United States, Russia, France,
China, Italy and United Kingdom, political
instability has made an affect to Egyptian
Armed Forces. This includes Egyptian
Army, Egyptian Navy, Egyptian Air Force
and Egyptian Air Defense Command.
Egypt has increased their Armed Forces
budget from $3.9 billion to $5.85 billion
within the last five years.
3. Libya:
4. Morocco:
5. Nigeria: Nigeria has the second largest
army by number of troops, but due to
political instability and lack of equipment
Nigeria has appear to be the 5th
strongest country in Africa. It has been
estimated that in year 2013-2018 Nigeria
may get weaker.
6. Tanzania: Tanzania has the most
powerful army in East Africa; The
Tanzania Peoples' Defence Force (TPDF)
(Swahili: Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania
(JWTZ) the one defeated Idi Amin of
Uganda with big help form Muammar Al-
Gaddafi of Libya and . The Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) The
Tanzania People' Defence Force includes
Land Forces Command, Naval Command,
Air Force Command, and Military
Intelligence. Julius Kambarage Nyerere
(The first Tanzania's President) prepared
president Laurent Desire Kabila of DR
Congo to take over the powerful Mobutu
Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu WA Zabanga;
also prepared his son Joseph Kabila.
Tanzania has trained Congolese solders
in Tabora and Kigoma region for Kabila
to return in Congo and take over power.
Both Kabilas father and son were
schooled and lived most of their lives in
Tanzania before returning to Congo.
Tanzania Also prepared Yoweri Kaguta
Museveni who also schooled and lived in
Tanzania before the Tanzania and
Uganda war that resulted in defeating
Dictator Idi Amin. Most Uganda leader got
help from Tanzania before becoming
leaders. This includes: Tito Lutwa Okello,
Yusuf Kironde Lule, and Bazilio Olara-
Okello. Recently, Tanzania did not want to
send his solders in Somalia but offer
training to Somali solders who will soon
return to protect their country. Tanzania
sent 924 soldiers to lead the African
Union Solders in Comoros's Island to take
Colonel Mohamed Bacar of Anjouan off
power. Tanzania has the 3rd largest army
in number troops after Ethiopia, and
Eritrea, and recently considered the
second in equipment after Kenya, but
with more well trained troops. The recent
estimation shows that Tanzania is the
country in East-Africa followed by
Ethiopia.
7. Ethiopia: Ethiopia once was considered
the strongest country in East Africa. After
continues civil war Ethiopia has gotten
weaker. Ethiopia is still has the largest
army by number of troops followed by
Eritrea and Tanzania, and the 3rd in
equipment after Kenya and Tanzania.
2011 Estimation shows, Ethiopia is
spending 2.4% of its GDP in military. This
includes: Ethiopia Army and Ethiopia Air
Force.
8. Ghana:
9. Kenya: Kenya is the second strongest
Nation in East Africa Economically after
Ethiopia; it is the first in East African
Community followed by Tanzania and
Uganda. In 1981 Kenya was consider to
be the 4th strongest nation in East Africa
after Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Somalia. In
1994 Kenya was considered the 3rd
strongest country in East Africa after
Somalia and Uganda having both
economic and political instability caused
by war and dictatorship. The estimation
indicates that Kenya will get even
stronger within next 5-10 years. Kenya
has the higher army budget in East Africa
followed by Ethiopia. 2012 estimation
shows Kenya is using 5.3% of its GDP in
military. This includes: Kenya Army, Kenya
Navy and Kenya Air Force.
10. Uganda:

Chongaiman: @Msauza
Even with this 'shocking state' of NA, the SADF are interested in training their troops in various NA schools. Don't forget that training is the most important factor in combat proficiency. Thus the SADF seem to be aware of something the UK Guardian seems to miss. Afua Hirsch, the stooge of the West had claimed in her report that Ghana and Mauritania would best lead the West African forces into Mali. This is laughable because the GA has no history of combat experience (except if coup plotting and peacekeeping - NOT PEACE ENFORCEMENT - could be regarded as such). Even during ECOMOG operation, they were known for 'koronje', manning of checkpoints in the rear and the likes. Now that the chips are down in Mali, the 'examplary' GA is nowhere to be found while the 'shocking' NA as usual is called upon. Fortunately, actions will always speak louder than words.

Can you give us a reliable source concerning your claim about South Africa's purported interests in training their troops in NA colleges. I just hope that you did not make up or fabricated this story. SA With such enormous resources, that is ( SA Army gymnasium, SA Airforce gymnasium, Navy gymnasium, SA Army college and Saldanha military university/academy) I do not see the need why they should train their armies in a foreign country.

agaugust: IOLO, I RESPECT YOUR MANNER OF APPROACH AND SOUND THINKING FACULTY. I STOPPED COMMENTING ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE OF SOME SEMI-ILLITERATE SOUTH AFRICAN 'SOLDIERS' AND CIVILIANS WHO USE INSULTING LANGUAGE AND BIASED JUDGEMENT TO POST COMMENTS ON THIS TOPIC OF AFRICA'S TOP TEN MILITARY POWERS (COUNTRIES). YOUR GOOD THINKING MADE ME COMMENT AGAIN FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE INFORMED.

MILITARY RANKING IS SOMETIMES DONE USING INAPPROPRIATE FACTORS TO JUDGE
MILITARY RANKING IS OFTEN DONE BY PEOPLE WHO LACK THE TECHNICAL SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE TO JUDGE

MILITARY RANKING IS BEST JUDGED BY A COMBINATION OF ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE OFFICERS ABOVE THE RANK OF A MAJOR WITH CONTRIBUTION FROM WAR HISTORIANS AND MILITARY STRATEGISTS. ALL OF US WHO COMMENT ON THIS TOPIC ON NAIRALAND LACK THESE QUALIFICATIONS, SO I DECIDED TO CONSULT A TEAM OF SENIOR MILITARY MEN AND WAR HISTORIANS IN THE USA WHERE I WORK WITH A PRIVATE MILITARY CONSULTANCY COMPANY AS AN AFRICAN RESEARCH SUPPORT STAFF.

ONE MAN I WILL RESPECT HIS OPINION ON AFRICAN MILITARY RANKINGS IS DIMEJI BANKOLE EX-SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPS NIGERIA, HE IS A FORMER BRITISH ARMY OFFICER AND HAS A MASTERS DEGREE IN MILITARY STRATEGY.

THE AMERICAN TEAM I CONSULTED HAVE TOLD ME THE CRITICAL FACTORS USED TO JUDGE MILITARY POWER AND I USED THAT TO MAKE MY RANKINGS.
THESE CRITICAL FACTORS OF POWER INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO :

(1) CURRENT EQUIPMENT IN SERVICE AND COMBAT READY OR IN SAFE STORAGE (UKRAINE'S AIR FORCE 100 JETS ACTIVE, 200 JETS IN SAFE STORAGE)
(2) NUMBER OF COMBAT MEN IN SERVICE AND TRAINED RESERVISTS (NORTH KOREAN ARMY DETERRENT TO THE WEST BASED ON 1950 KOERAN WAR OF NUMBERS)
(3) ABILITY OF THE MEN TO USE THEIR EQUIPMENT TO MAXIMUM BATTLEFIELD EFFECTIVENESS (ETHIOPIAN AIR FORCE DOG FIGHT PILOTS)
(4) CALIBRE AND QUALITY OF OFFICERS FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL TO 5 STAR GENERAL (ISRAELI ARMY OFFICERS IN WAR TACTICS)
(5) PREVIOUS AND RECENT COMBAT EXPLOITS OF THE FORCES (ISRAELI MILITARY HISTORY 1967 TO 2013)
(6) HISTORIC FIGHTING MORALE OF THE SOLDIERS (GURKHA ARMY ORIGINATING OF ASIAN NEPAL NATION NOW IN THE BRITISH ARMY)
(7) ABILITY OF THE MILITARY TO TRANSFORM RAPIDLY AND INCREASE ITS BATTLE FIELD POTENCY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF WAR (UKRAINE'S WEAPONS IN SAFE STORAGE)

SOME TWO FACTORS COMMONLY USE BY THE UNTRAINED, ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO JUDGE MILTARY POWER, THEY ARE :

MILITARY BUDGET IS NOT AN EASY FACTOR TO USE BECAUSE OF FRAUD BY CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS LIKE ANGOLA AND ZIMBABWE WHO STEAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE NAME OF
DEFENSE SPENDING, IT IS COMMON IN AFRICA. ALSO SOME SPEND MORE OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AND NOT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE DUE TO SOLDIERS HUGE SALARIES OR CONSUMPTION OF BATTLEFIELD ORDINANCE AND MUNITIONS DURING AN ONGOING WAR LIKE SUDAN.

MILITARY WEAPONS MANUFACTURING LOCALLY IS NOT ALSO A GOOD FACTOR TO JUDGE BECAUSE USSR SOVIET ERA MISTAKES HAS TAUGHT THE WHOLE WORLD A LESSON THAT GOVERNMENT 100% FUNDING OF DEFENSE INDUSTRIES WILL KILL THE ECONOMY IN THE LONG RUN. SO MOST COUNTRIES PRIVATIZE WEAPONS MANUFACTURING. THIS IS THE REASON WHY DENEL OF SOUTH AFRICA IS NOW BEING SLOWLY PRIVATIZED. ALSO THE WEAPONS PRODUCED IN A CAPITALIST COUNTRY HAS TO BE FULLY PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BUY FOR EQUIPPING THEIR MILITARY, UNLIKE THE USSR SOVIET ECONOMY OF THE PAST WHICH COLLECTED LARGE NUMBERS OF WEAPONRY FOR THE COLD WAR WITHOUT PROPER ECONOMIC DEALING WITH THE MANUFACTURERS, AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT COLLAPSED THE SOVIET UNIONS ECONOMY LEADING TO PRESIDENT GORBACHEV'S GLASNOST AND PERESTROIKA POLICY CHANGES.

ALSO EXPAINS WHY SOUTH AFRICA MANUFACTURES THE ROOIVAK HELICOPTER GUNSHIP BUT HAS JUST LESS THAN 15 OF THE AIRCRAFT IN ITS OWN AIR FORCE, COMPARE THAT TO EGYPT WHICH DOES NOT MANUFACTURE HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS BUT HAS 150 AIRCRAFT IN ITS AIR FORCE (INCLUDING AMERICAN MADE APACHE HELICOPTERS) TEN TIMES THAT OF SOUTH AFRICA WHICH BOASTS OF MANUFACTURING. SO IN AN HELICOPTER COMBAT WHO WILL WIN ? EGYPT OR SOUTH AFRICA ? LET THE PUBLIC JUDGE WITH THEIR COMMON SENSE ! WEAPONS COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PRODUCE IN LARGE NUMBERS. WHAT YOU PRODUCE DOES NOT FIGHT A WAR FOR YOU UNLESS YOU BUY IT AND EQUIP YOUR MILITARY WITH IT. VERY SIMPLE LOGIC.

THUS I USED THE 7 CRITICAL POINTS ABOVE TO MAKE MY RANKING OF AFRICA'S TO TEN MILITARY POWERS AS FOLLOWS :

STRONGEST TEN MILITARY POWERS/COUNTRIES IN AFRICA :

don't be surprised,this is the most technically sound rankings from world class military analysts in europe and north america

1. EGYPT
too powerful,too strong,too well trained,too well equipped,too experienced to be challenged by any other african country. the world respects egypt's power

2. ALGERIA
it will shock any country that tries to fight algeria, very well equipped modern army and airforce,yet people don't know. algeria is a silent big power

3. NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA SAME POSITION

nigerian army and navy are bigger and stronger both in equipment and manpower, but south african airforce is very much stronger in modern equipment, so a balance of power, meaning that a war between nigeria and south africa will end in a stalemate of no winner no loser like the iran-iraq war, it is only crazy nations who start such war that will end in a stalemate, you gain nothing, you lose many things. both countries have stealth warships, good radar defence and satellites in orbit for surveillance and information. the world respects nigerian artillery and infantry skills displayed in the past 20 years. the world respects south african airforce as they have been flying combat missions since world war II in 1940 and have very modern jet fighters. both countries have a navy not yet tested fully in battle. south african army has no record of military victory in any modern war and it tactically avoids direct combat for the past 20 years till now.

4. ETHIOPIA, ANGOLA, AND SUDAN SAME POSITION

ethiopia has a battle hardened army,combat experience nation against nation,its airforce flew warplanes against italy over 70 years ago! respect ethiopia. angola and sudan have latest jet-fighters and massive tanks/artillery firepower with many years of real combat experience in big civil wars

5. MOROCCO, ERITREA, UGANDA SAME POSITION
morocco has good jet-fighters,but its soldiers are not first-class on land and air combat. eritrea is a small nation with powerful airforce and army having many years of serious battlefield experience. uganda has a modernized airforce with good jetfighters and a moderately experienced army with good commanders

HOWEVER IN REAL WAR, ANY OF THE WEAKER AFRICAN COUNTRIES LIKE CAMEROUN CAN SURPRISINGLY AND SUDDENLY BECOME MILITARILY POWERFUL OVERNIGHT IF THEY HAVE A DEFENCE PACT WITH A WORLD SUPER POWER LIKE FRANCE. SIERRA LEONE HAD A DEFENCE PACT WITH NIGERIA AND THE IGNORANT REBELS OVERTHREW PRSIDENT TEJAN KABBAH, NIGERIAN MILITARY RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND DEFEATED THE REBELS. THIS IS THE REASON WHY NIGERIA IS ALWAYS AFRAID OF WAR WITH CAMEROUN IN BAKASSI, AS FRANCE CAN SUPPORT CAMEROUN AND DEFEAT NIGERIA IN A WAR. PRESIDENT OBASANJO RUSHED TO UKRAINE TO SIGN A DEFENCE PACT BEFORE MOVING MORE TROOPS INTO BAKASSI PENINSULA DURING HIS FIRST TERM. FRANCE USED MILITARY POWER IN IVORY COAST LAST YEAR AND JUST YESTERDAY IN MALI. NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE SUCH COUNTRIES WHO HAVE DEFENSE PACTS WITH AN EUROPEAN SUPER POWER, EVEN IF IT IS BELGIUM.

if you doubt the above military power rankings for african countries, spend some time to carefully study each countries military equipment and war history on wikipedia, army recognition, and modern african war history on the internet. observe independent and unbiased web records egypt-israeli war, sudanese civil war, angolan civil war, liberian and sierra leonean civil wars, south african- cuban bush war, ethiopian-eritrean civil wars, ugandan civil war, etc. thank you general public.

I still maintain my position, your ranking is flawed in every respect. You might be right to a certain degree in terms of the research that you have conducted independently, but that does not make you right to put SA and Nigeria on the same scale. In terms of technology and the military expertise, that I am sure, South Africa is way far ahead of Nigeria. You have limited your argument on the manufacturing of ROOIVALK, yet you forget that it is 10x more powerful and advanced than APACHE and what about CHEETAH (fighter plane), tanks and variety of weaponry that we have manufactured on our own? Nigeria does not have the skill, expertise and financial muscle to produce what we have achieved thus far and that apply to Egypt as well.

In the past, in respect of biological warfare, though is illegal today, there was no African country that could match us in that department. We are the only country in Africa to have build and dismantled our own atomic and nuclear weaponry. It is a well proven fact that SA has better scientists and engineers in their military than any country in Africa. Do you think that this expertise and technology in our military has all vanished through thin air?

The heaven knows that this man is so childish and his argument does not hold any water at all. By the way, does he suggests to us that actors of Hollywood movies that are played every hour on Movie Magic deserve some royalties from DSTv. What about Bollywood actors whose movies play every day in Mzansi? On the same breath, does he insinuate that musicians who have their songs played on air by various national radio stations every day must be offered payment of some kind by that particular Radio station. In actual facts, does he even know how marketing and promotions work? Musicians would do anything, even go to the extent of bribing radio presenters just to have their songs to get more airplay than that of other musicians.


Imeka must stop behaving like a selfish baby who does not even want to share her mother with anybody else even her siblings. In South Africa we have never knew anything about this so called Nollyhood until DSTv stepped in to promote their work. Truly, that way is how Nollyhood actors get to be known all over Africa. Their fame has now grown than ever before. His colleagues have done perfectly well for rejecting and disowning him, because he now parade as an enemy of progress. Radios and TVs are meant to play music and movies respectively and irrespective of whether they are South African, Nigerian, American or Indian. The guy must still learn a lot about marketing, because DSTv will never play any of the movies which were recently released until that movie make enough profit. Thus, I do not see any point in him claiming that Nollyhood has been hijacked by foreigners. I just hope he(Imeka) sees this post and hope that various media in Nigeria remit it to him.