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Isenberg Video
- Here and There with Dave Marash, February 3, 2015
- Sep. 2, 2014 Al Jazeera English segment on Blackwater trial - Comment by David Isenberg
- Jan 2, 2010, Al Jazzeera (English), re Judge Urbina’s dismissal of charges against Blackwater contractors
- June 28, 2010. heard in “Controversy over CIA Blackwater contract,” The World
- August 17, 2010, on C-Span III, speaks on private military contracting
- Examining the role of the military contractor
- Has the Privatization of National Security Gone Too Far? The Future of Military Contracting, November 14, 2008, 9:30-11:00am, New America Foundation
- David Isenberg on PressTV - US contractor with poor ratings hired again
- Outsourcing War and Peace – Video
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Articles: Africa
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Promised a Job, Sent to the Front: Four Kenyans and the Families Waiting for Them
An athlete. A security guard. A cook. A driver. Four Kenyans recruited into Russia’s war in Ukraine through different lies, by different people, at different times – all of them ending up in the same place: the front lines.
A documentary by Kenyan outlet Tuko, produced by journalist King Wangeshi, follows the families left behind and the one man who made it out alive. It puts names and faces to a crisis that the Kenyan government has acknowledged at scale: according to official figures, at least 200 Kenyans have joined Russian forces through deceptive recruitment. The government has described the situation as “extremely worrying.” Continue reading
Botswana warns of Russia coercing citizens to fight in Ukraine at ‘alarming rate’
It has long been reported that Russia uses African mercenaries in its war in Ukraine and that many of them were recruited under opaque procedures. Arrests have been made for the practice in other African countries, including Kenya, which has said at least 1,000 citizens have been recruited. Continue reading
The double standards on the use of mercenaries in African conflicts
There is selective outrage by global players such as the US and the UK. When viewed through the lens of foreign policy, Russia’s hostile relationship with the US and Europe could be the main reason for the extensive analysis of Russia and its mercenaries, while the UAE’s close relationships with the US and the UK could account for the limited critique. There might be sanctions against the Rapid Support Forces, yet minimal ones against its supporter, the UAE. This matters because it highlights foreign affairs over accountability. The UAE has been implicated by reports of its involvement in the conflict, including the hiring of Colombian mercenaries. The mercenaries in Sudan were hired by Colombian private military contractors who were contracted by an Emirati security company with links to the ruling party of the United Arab Emirates, according to Human Rights Watch. Continue reading
Insecurity, Counterterrorism and the Use of Private Military and Security Companies in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study
Insecurity, Counterterrorism and the Use of Private Military and Security Companies in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study by Tarela Juliet Ike Dung Ezekiel Jidong Mieyebi Lawrence Ike Evangelyn Ebi Ayobi Journal of… You must be logged in to view this content. … Continue reading
DRC leader tightens grip on power with Americas help
DRC leader tightens grip on power with Americas help Times The London England May 18 2026 p24 You must be logged in to view this content. Click here to subscribe
Boeings flying Sudan’s war routes
Shaulis-controlled firms have operated at least three aging Boeing aircraft flying to key logistics hubs used by the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese paramilitary group accused of atrocities in the Darfur region. Continue reading
After Ukraine: The peace dividend Africa does not want
After Ukraine: The peace dividend Africa does not want The end of the Ukraine war would flood the global market with surplus weapons, fighters and drone expertise—much of which may end… You must be logged in to view this content. … Continue reading
Russian Fighters Could Pose Threat to Africa After Ukraine
Russian Fighters Could Pose Threat to Africa After Ukraine Weapons and mercenaries likely would pour into continent By ADFJuly 14, 20264 Mins Read The ever-evolving use of drones has been a… You must be logged in to view this content. … Continue reading
Russian Private Military Companies May Become a Security Threat to Their Hosts in Africa
As the U.S. reassesses its policy on foreign aid and takes a turn from value-based cooperation to trade-focused policy towards Africa, Russia’s repurposing of PMCs could influence African nations as they consider future governance options. Russian PMCs, now more aligned with the Kremlin’s agenda and less focused on profit and equipped with a full suite of subversive capabilities, could help steer their African hosts away from the U.S. and impede African progress toward economic prosperity. Continue reading
Wagner’s Opioid Empire: How Tramadol Trafficking Fuels Russian Mercenary Networks in Central Africa
Wagner’s Opioid Empire: How Tramadol Trafficking Fuels Russian Mercenary Networks in Central Africa July 13, 2026 The illicit tramadol trade linking India and the Central African Republic (CAR) has evolved into… You must be logged in to view this content. … Continue reading