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In this section on the Capabilities, Trends & Economics of regional military defense capabilities, the military trends & priorities of Sub-Saharan Africa are assessed. The diminished optimism for the military piece support capability in countries of the African Union (AU) to deal with regional conflict is related to maritime security, & humanitarian aid for HIV\AIDS & famine. A comparative discussion of conflict in the region delineates advances & challenges in the Horn of Africa and Central Africa. The change in budgetary trends to move from defense spending to a focus on poverty, social services, & infrastructure spending is evidenced throughout the entire region. A detailed assessment follows of forty-four countries military capabilities that inventories troops, organizations by service & equipment, deployment, & foreign forces. Tables. J. Harwell

How to best address the range of diverse security challenges on the continent has in recent years been a preoccupation of many defense and security establishments. The African Standby Force (ASF) is the African Union's prescribed instrument for eventually meeting the military demands of the continent. West African states faced a range of ongoing security challenges in 2011, notably the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire and continued efforts to combat Islamist armed groups operating in the Sahel. East Africa faced a range of disparate security challenges in 2011, including the continued Ethiopia-Eritrea stand-off, war in Somalia, drought and ongoing hostilities between and within Sudan and South Sudan. Adapted from the source document.

Positive & negative developments that have influenced the security of sub-Saharan nations are examined. Whereas the spread of HIV/AIDS & inadequate food resources have impeded some sub-Saharan countries economic & social development, it is demonstrated that political violence has ravished the development of other countries throughout the region, eg, the Ivory Coast & Nigeria. Even though the Comprehensive Peace Agreement has temporarily stifled internecine conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, it is stressed that peace negotiations in Darfur are shaky & that multiple cross-border disputes further threaten regional security. Improvements to the South African National Defense Forces capabilities are noted, & the economic impact of sub-Saharan countries defense expenditures is pondered. Moreover, detailed information regarding two aspects of sub-Saharan nations defense capabilities -- the service organizations & their deployment -- is provided. Tables. J. W. Parker

This chapter provides an independent & detailed account of military capabilities & defense economics for countries of Sub-Sahara Africa. The political & humanitarian crisis in Sudan & the subsequent flow of Sudanese refugees into the neighboring Chad; and, the disintegrating peace agreement between the government in Khartoum & southern Sudanese rebels all prove to be a constant challenge. In Niger Delta, political instability has threatened the West's access to Nigerian oil. Islamic jihadists have been able to establish a strong presence from the Horn of Africa all the way to Mauritania. Along Africa's coastlines, cocaine smuggling & piracy remain significant challenges. The U.N. most involved peacekeeping missions are in Africa because, both individually & collectively, many African nations lack the military might to deal with the problems occurring on that continent. The African Union is lobbying hard for the bolstering & coordination of African military power. Statistics & details concerning the region's countries' defense budgets & capabilities are provided. C. Goger