“Rebel groups in Africa have better equipment than SANDF,” says defence analyst Kobus Marais
In this episode of The Security Podcast we examine the critical state of South Africa’s Air Force. It has been reported as reaching a critical low with only six fully operational and defence ready aircraft out of a fleet of 330. It is the latest revelation in a litany of failures for the country’s defence force and has raised serious concerns about the country’s ability to defend itself, protect its 3,000 km coastline, manage its land borders, and provide regional stability. Our guest is Kobus Marais, a defence analyst and the former opposition party Shadow Minister of Defence, who says that rebels groups like the M23 in the Democratic Republic have better equipment than the South African National Defence Force.
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Podcast is Future War: Why the British Army needs to revolutionise - Col (Retd) Harry Fullerton
Transforming the British Army into a war winning machine will require a revolution not an evolution, according to Colonel (Retd) Harry Fullerton OBE.
The British Army's fighting Power has been allowed to erode over the past 35 years. The publication Government’s Strategic Defence Review 2025 (SDR 25) has been delayed, pending the production of a new National Security Strategy. In light of the delay, there is an opportunity to examine what the ideal Land Force of tomorrow should look like.
In this episode of the Security Podcast with Col Fullerton, former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment looks at what the Army needs to do to transform itself into a lethal, competent fighting force capable of meeting the challenges of a future conflict.
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Lawfare - Can the SAS get a fair trial? Brig Phil McEvoy OBE
Lawfare - what it means for serving and former members of the British Armed forces - especially those serving in the SAS/SBS is the subject of the latest episode of The Security Podcast. Our guest is Brig (Retd) Phil McEvoy, the former head of Operational Law Army and the Deputy Head of the Service Prosecuting Authority. Recently, the coroner who presided over the inquest into the 1992 Clonoe Ambush, which resulted in the deaths of four IRA terrorists being shot dead by the SAS, submitted his findings of unjustified killings of the terrorist to the Director of Public Prosecutions. This effectively means that the four SAS veterans could face criminal charges. So, are these inquests into legacy killings an SAS witch-hunt or the correct application of the law? This, and other aspects of lawfare, are discussed in this episode of the Security Podcast.
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Col Harry Fullerton (OBE) Afghanistan: Tactical Success - Strategic Failure
In the second part of the podcast with Colonel Harry Fullerton, the former commander of the Household Cavalry regiment assesses what went wrong in Afghanistan and why. Harry explains that while he, and other commanders, achieved tactical success on the ground - defeating the Taliban wherever they met them - the overall mission was a strategic failure. He describes the campaign as Britain’s fourth Afghan War, adding that the previous three had all failed. He lists the many failings associated with the campaign but argues that the greatest mistake was the misguided belief that Western nations could deliver democracy to a country like Afghanistan in such a short period of time
Harry also talks about the loneliness of command, the fear of failure and the differences between commanding troops on combat operations compared to undertaking public duties back in the UK.
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Rising wave of child soldiers in Africa: 5-year-olds enlisted in armed conflicts
Africa has witnessed a significant surge in the recruitment of child soldiers across conflict zones, exacerbated by Islamic insurgencies advancing southward across the continent. The United Nations has highlighted a notably high increase in child recruitment, primarily by non-state armed groups, estimating that 8,655 children were recruited for conflicts in 2023. Disturbingly, children as young as five, were coerced into joining.
In an interview with The Security Podcast , Naomi Haupt, a researcher from the University of the Free State in South Africa, highlighted how the recruitment of child soldiers is driven by factors such as armed conflicts, political instability, poverty, weak governance, and ethnic tensions. Armed groups exploit children's vulnerability, sometimes forcing them into service, she said. Haupt recommends withholding aid to countries where the recruitment of children takes place to strengthen accountability.
Welcome to The Security Podcast where journalists Sean Rayment and Linda van Tilburg from National Security News along with their guests, will deliver their take on the global national security issues which affect us all.
At National Security News (NSN), our mission is to provide timely, accurate, and comprehensive coverage of national security matters from around the world. We understand the critical importance of staying informed in an ever-changing global landscape, where security challenges are constantly evolving.
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