The Combat and Military Systems of Africa and its Diaspora

[DrBanneker]

Battle of Cuito Cuanavale: Angolan-Cuban victory over South Africa

Quick background, Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1974. The Portuguese colonies were typically the last to do so as the fascist regime of Salazar in Portugal fought until the very end (a coup in 1974), through extreme violence if necessary, to hold on. The MPLA of Eduardo dos Santos (still the current president) won and inaugurated a socialist regime. A rebel force UNITA lead by the charismatic Jonas Savimbi emerged and began to work to overthrow the government. UNITA was backed by the US and South Africa. The latter invaded Angola in 1975 in support. Angola called on Cuba for aid.

South Africa was rebuffed this first time but periodically intervened. Like the other "front line states" (Black ruled states that bordered South Africa) they harbored bases for the ANC. In 1987 dos Santos moved South to beat UNITA (who was supplied via Namibia, then called Southwest Africa and ruled by South Africa since WWI). South Africa did not want UNITA to lose and have SWAPO, the Namibian independence fighters, on the border to stage attacks so South Africa invaded Angola on behalf of UNITA. The tide turned against the MPLA who called the Cubans (who never really left) for support again.

While the battle was long (over 6+ months) and the numbers of troops not large, it was a turning point. Cuban air support and advanced equipment from the Soviets helped turn the tide. While Angola did not win a complete victory over South Africa and UNITA, the battle outcome forced the South African withdrawal and South Africa began negotiating for a withdrawal of troops (and later independence) for Namibia while the Cubans left Angola. Mandela stated that the battle was, "a turning point for the liberation of our continent and my people".

 

[koolkeef]

Where in Africa?

Somewhere in central Africa. I wanna say Congo but it was a while ago since the last time I heard it, and he's passed since. He was no tin-foil hat guy but he swore up and down that's when/where the AIDS virus was created.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

@DrBanneker - it wasn't a great book. It took a cursory glance at pre colonial African militaries and then it really emphasized the human rights tragedies of post colonial African conflict. It's short too. Perhaps it's an Intro book but I'd watch for any agenda

 

[DrBanneker]

@DrBanneker - it wasn't a great book. It took a cursory glance at pre colonial African militaries and then it really emphasized the human rights tragedies of post colonial African conflict. It's short too. Perhaps it's an Intro book but I'd watch for any agenda

Good to know. I wish someone would do a book of like 20 great battles in African history.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Battle of Cuito Cuanavale: Angolan-Cuban victory over South Africa

Quick background, Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1974. The Portuguese colonies were typically the last to do so as the fascist regime of Salazar in Portugal fought until the very end (a coup in 1974), through extreme violence if necessary, to hold on. The MPLA of Eduardo dos Santos (still the current president) won and inaugurated a socialist regime. A rebel force UNITA lead by the charismatic Jonas Savimbi emerged and began to work to overthrow the government. UNITA was backed by the US and South Africa. The latter invaded Angola in 1975 in support. Angola called on Cuba for aid.

South Africa was rebuffed this first time but periodically intervened. Like the other "front line states" (Black ruled states that bordered South Africa) they harbored bases for the ANC. In 1987 dos Santos moved South to beat UNITA (who was supplied via Namibia, then called Southwest Africa and ruled by South Africa since WWI). South Africa did not want UNITA to lose and have SWAPO, the Namibian independence fighters, on the border to stage attacks so South Africa invaded Angola on behalf of UNITA. The tide turned against the MPLA who called the Cubans (who never really left) for support again.

While the battle was long (over 6+ months) and the numbers of troops not large, it was a turning point. Cuban air support and advanced equipment from the Soviets helped turn the tide. While Angola did not win a complete victory over South Africa and UNITA, the battle outcome forced the South African withdrawal and South Africa began negotiating for a withdrawal of troops (and later independence) for Namibia while the Cubans left Angola. Mandela stated that the battle was, "a turning point for the liberation of our continent and my people".

The Boerstaat wasn't great at fighting after the Boer War. Even before then they struggled against various African states. They were good at under-handed ways of sabotaging African resistance.

Renamo in Mozambique is their baby. They also placed many spies in Umkhonto we Sizwe. Remind me to dig up stuff on the armed wing of the ANC sometime!

 

[DrBanneker]

The Boerstaat wasn't great at fighting after the Boer War. Even before then they struggled against various African states. They were good at under-handed ways of sabotaging African resistance.

Renamo in Mozambique is their baby. They also placed many spies in Umkhonto we Sizwe. Remind me to dig up stuff on the armed wing of the ANC sometime!

That would be interesting to hear about. I knew about Renamo. Kept blowing up the railway they were trying to build from Maputo to Harare (or was it Bulawayo?) so everyone had to ship to ports in SA.

Speaking of which, maybe we should post on Moshoeshoe sometime. He more than held his own against them before he had to become a British protectorate.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

The Asante Empire: The Formation of the Empire

• In the 1300s, traders from Mali began to make contact with Akan farmers on the border between the savanna and rainforest in what is now Ghana. This prompted the Akan to move into the rainforest, permanently, where they used slave labour to clear land for agriculture and mine gold. Many small Akan states developed, each based on a capital town. The export of gold to the north aided the development of Timbuktu and Gao.
• In the 1400s, the Portuguese on the southern coast began exchanging slaves from Benin for gold from Akan.
• A few Akan states emerged such as Denkyira and Akwamu, that fought over control of gold mining and trade routes to the coast. Since the forest in this area was quite thick, raiding parties and larger armies had to travel by a network of narrow paths on which it was easy to create ambushes/hold off attackers. Large battles took place in the clearings and fields near villages and towns.
• Until the 1700s, Akan warfare took place on the control of these road networks. A small force on these paths could block a large force for a long time, and fast-moving columns of soldiers could cut off an enemy from important supplies like food. Warfare consisted of javelin throwers, archers and the like launching their missiles while sword and shield soldiers closed in on the enemy.
• In the 1500s and early 1600s, European gunmen began aiding their indigenous African allies so that their trade partner would not be defeated in battle. Between the 1650s and 1680s, guns became really common in Akan lands. These weapons changed Akan tactics. Mobile groups of fighting gunmen called left and right wings became the preferred method of war. Akan armies employed hundreds of musketeers. Small Akan states used small armies of professional soldiers trained in sword and shield combat while larger states used peasant armies with guns.
• Akwamu was the first state to adopt firearms and it created an army with a semi-professional core of gunmen and a large amount of conscripts. Adopting guns and the new tactics, Denkyira also rose. It controlled trade with the Dutch (at El Mina), became the dominant Akan state between the 1660s and 1690s and traded with the British at Cape Coast Castle.
• Fighting a series of demanding wars beginning in the 1690s against the Asen and Twifo to keep trade routes to the coast open, Denkyira demanded more resources from its tributary states and subjects. This led to a rebellion by a coalition of northern Akan groups led by Osei Tutu who was based at the trading center of Kumasi.
• Osei Tutu recruited gunment from Akwamu and fighting between Osei Tutu's alliance and Denkyira began in 1699 or so. Southern communities began to block shipments of guns and ammo to Denkyira to weaken them. In 1701, Denkyira's armies pushed Osei Tutu's rebels northeast in a series of fierce battles. This may have been a trap because Denkyira clashed with Osei Tutu's main army at Feyiase and was defeated.
• The Denkyira king, Nytim Gyakari, was defeated and his army fled south. Osei Tutu's men then advanced and acked Denkyira's trading towns. He brought other Akan-speaking states into his alliance and created the Asante Empire, centered on Kumasi.
• After suppressing a Denkyira rebellion in 1707-1708, it was incorporated into the Empire. Around this time, the coastal Fante were conquering other coastal states like Fetu, Aguafo and Asebu. Akwamu also exapnded east across the Volta River.
• Asante began as a coalition but after Osei Tutu was given the 'Golden Stool' by religious leaders, he became a King. Between 1713-1715, he led his army south to conquer the Twifu, Wassa, Aowin and Nzema. In 1717 he invaded Akyem to the east but was killed in battle.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

The Asante Empire: More Conquests and the First Fante-British Clashes

• His successor, Opoku Ware led many campaigns that grew the Empire. In the 1720s, he attacked Akyem and fought off an invasion from Aowin in the west. He defeated Bono to the north and pushed the capital of Wassa closer to the coast. He conquered western Gonja and Gyaaman in 1732, Banda in 1740, Akyem in 1742 and eastern Gonja and Dagomba in 1744. When he died, Opoku Ware controlled all the Akan states (except Fante) in a vast empire. Larger than modern-Ghana.
  
• The army was organized in a very special way. It had: scouts, advance guard, main body, commander's bodgy guard, rear guard and left and right wings. Each part of the Empire was responsible for providing one of these elements. In the late 1700s, the Empire constructed a network of 'great roads' that connected major towns. It enhanced trade and removed the advantages that small forces had along narrow forest paths allowing for the quick transport through the forest. This helped the Asante put down rebellions in Wassa (1760, 1776, 1785) and Akyem (1765, 1767) although Akyem defeated Asante in 1772.
• In 1807, Asante invaded and conquered Fante to control trade with the Europeans. At this time, the Asante could raise 80,000 men. 50,000 of whom had guns. Asante garnered victories against the Fante in 1811, and from 1814 to 1816. During the 1810s, they blockaded the British because they refused to pay rent for their coastal castles and the British also encouraged the Fante to not pay tribute. They also didn't sign a treaty recognizing Asante sovereignty over the Fante.
• Brig. Gen. Charles MacCarthy (gov. of Sierra Leone) led an invasion of southern Asante in 1823. His plan was that four separate columns would link up and defeat Asante. But on Jan. 21st 1824, MacCarthy's column was confronted by 10,000 Asante soldiers on the banks of the Pra River. They two armies shot at each other across the 60 foot stream until the British ran out of ammo. The Asante then charged at them and overwhelmed them. Only 20 British troops managed to escape the Battle of Nsamankow. The decapitated heads of MacCarthy and another British officer were brought to Kumasi as trophies.
• The Asante advanced south and attacked Cape Coast Castle but were repelled. On August 7th, 1826 at the Battle of Katamanso (also called Dodowa) the Asante attacked a larger force of 12,000 men from various coastal states which were supplied by the British. The British also fought and brought with them a few cannon and rockets. Leading the Asante army, Osei Yaw ignored the advice of his generals to stage a night attack and launched a daylight assault across an open coastal plain.
• During their approach, the Asante took heavy casualties from British cannon fire until they were close enough to fire musket volleys. When the Asante began to win, the British opened fire with their rockets which panicked the Asante army. In the confusion, the Golden Stool was almost lost. It was the worst Asante military adventure. Hundreds were killed and 60 leaders were lost. Kumasi lost control of the coast and the Fante began independent, with the Pra River serving as the southern boundary of the Asante.
• Defeat by the British and their coastal allies led to a weakening of the king's authority and the rise of a pro-war faction among the Asante leadership.
• Tensions rose again when the British sheltered several fugitives from Asanteman. The Asante armies began raiding caostal communities but pulled back before the start of the wet season. The British responded by sending West Indian troops (fascinating!) into Asante territory, half of them died due to tropical diseases and they were withdrawn in 1864.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Map of the Asante Empire (Asanteman)

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Asante soldiers

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Asante soldiers II

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Why Amisom struggles to defeat al-Shabaab

WHY AMISOM STRUGGLES TO DEFEAT AL-SHABAAB
November 26, 2016


By Hussein Mohamad, @HussienM12

The African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM ), which was created on 19 January 2007, has been struggling to defeat and destroy the terrorist group al-Shabaab. As well, many Somalis believe that the mission itself is not supporting the federal government of Somalia and the Somali National Army.

To investigate how Somalis view the AMISOM mission in the capital, Mogadishu, I met and interviewed several Somalis and found most of them strongly opposed to the AU mission.

I asked those I interviewed the following questions;

• What is your impression of the AMISOM mission?
• Do you think that the AMISOM mission support Somali national army ?
• Is al-Shabaab being defeated by AU mission?

Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul who is a Somali student living in Mogadishu believes that AMISOM forces came to Somalia for economic reasons rather than to help or defeat al-Shabaab.

Bulbul said. “I went to Uganda for education and I met when I was there the wife of an AMISOM soldier, so I understood everything and she was waiting his money every month”

“They are called peacekeeping forces even though many AMISOM troops were arrested in Mogadishu for selling AU military equipment on the black market,” he added.

In a previous report, AMISOM confirmed the arrests of at least 5 of its soldiers who were captured in a joint operation conducted by both AMISOM and the Somali police forces on 6, June 2016.

Dr Paul D.Williams who is associate professor at Elliott school of International Affairs said, “I think there are a mix of reasons why AMISOM stays in Somalia, not just only economic issues.”

Bulbul who is strongly against AMISOM presence in Somalia said, “I don’t believe that AMISOM helps Somali people. Ask yourself why they are not defeating al-Shabaab? They have been in Somalia more than 10 years, so I can’t trust this mission.”

“AMISOM stays in the country for economic reasons not peacekeeping mission,” he added.

Abukar Arman, a Somali writer, activist and former diplomat says that AMISOM mission can’t succeed without the support of local population.

Such local support however is often unavailable. The Ethiopian government, which is one of the East African countries serving under AMISOM mission, is perceived to be Somalia’s long-standing enemy and entered the country for retaliation, a perspective shared by many Somalis living around the world.

Recent actions as well have given fuel to these accusations. According to local media, the Ethiopian troops serving under AMISOM mission withdrew from nine towns within four months without explanation. Later al-Shabaab took the control of these towns.

In Somalia there are at least 21,000 AU peacekeeping forces deployed by several East African countries including Uganda, Djibouti, Burundi, Kenya and Ethiopia.

@Karbaash

 

[Green N' White]

Mahdist Sudan: The Final Wars against Europeans, Egyptians and Ethiopians

• Abdallahi al-Taaisha, the Mahdi's successor known as the Khalifa imposed strict Islamic law and an aggressive conversion policy. This created conflict with neighbouring states such as Ethiopia.
• In 1885, Osman Digna moved from Kassala in Sudan into Ethiopia. They were confronted by an Ethiopian army led by Ras (lord) Alula. Although the Ethiopians suffered from heavy casualties, they drove off the Mahdists.
• After several years of border skirmishes, a Mahdist army under Hamdan Abu Anga raided the Ethiopian highlands in early 1888 and sacked the old capital of Gondar.
• In 1889, the Mahdists invaded Ethiopia again and Emperor Yohannes IV was killed at Gallabat by a sniper. This had many consequences of Ethiopia's reformation...
• In 1895, Mahdists invaded Italian ruled Eritrea. The British feared that other European powers, like France, could conquer Sudan if they did not. Ethiopian victory over the Italians in 1896 at Adwa put away Italian expansionist plans but a French-Ethiopian plan to conquer Southern Sudan seemed possible (fascinating!).
• In 1896, an Anglo-Egyptian army led by Horatio Kitchener invaded Sudan, defeated a Mahdist army and captured Dongola province. Kitchener slowly invaded Sudan, supported by gunboats on the Nile and while simultaneously building a railway to avoid the logistical problems that Hicks' faced.
• In April 1898, another Mahdist army was defeated at Atbara. The Mahdists were trying to prevent the Anglo-Egyptians from advancing towards Khartoum. However, time was not on their side. Two British brigades were added to the Anglo-Egyptian forces.
• On September 2, 1898 - 25,000 British, Egyptian and Sudanese faced 50,000 Mahdists led by the Khalifa. The 15,000 riflemen in the Mahdist army were not concentrated and their firepower was less effective than it should've been. Moreover, artillery and machine guns that they had were not used since they were seen as only siege weapons.
• A Mahdist attempt to draw out the British out of their fortifications failed and a division of Sudanese were killed by the British gunboats.
• When Kitchener advanced, his Sudanese forced repelled a flanking maneouever and three simultaneous assaults. The Mahdists retreated and Kitchener occupied Omdurman - desecrating the Mahdi's grave.
• The Mahdists suffered over 30,000 soldiers killed, wounded and captured at the Battle of Omdurman.
• The Khalifa escaped but was killed the following year. Mahdist Sudan was destroyed. Half of Sudan's population was killed during the Mahdist Wars.

Mahdists were defeated plenty of times by Ras Alula Aba Nega and the British were saved by the Ras on several occasions. That's partly the reason the British helped in the resistance with Italy later on. Also the best warring tribe in East Africa by were Arsi Oromo who pretty much stopped Menelik who had more guns and a bigger army for over a decade.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Mahdists were defeated plenty of times by Ras Alula Aba Nega and the British were saved by the Ras on several occasions. That's partly the reason the British helped in the resistance with Italy later on. Also the best warring tribe in East Africa by were Arsi Oromo who pretty much stopped Menelik who had more guns and a bigger army for over a decade.

Tell us the story about the Arsi Oromo versus Menelik's armies.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Love this photo: