The Evolution of African Armies: A Perspective in 2010

African militaries have only recently emerged from colonial rule and several decades of Cold War gaming by superpowers. As the continent continues to be riddled with wars, these armies have been an essential part of the problem and the solution. Their evolution over the time has occurred in waves of progress and arrest. While it is impossible to generalize about the entire continent's military apparatus, this paper highlights some of the larger trends that have emerged out of this evolutionary process. African armies have become more international in their approach with greater involvement in peacekeeping and collective security efforts, yet they continue to have embarrassing traits of corruption, failed procurements and being a source of domestic turbulence