ABSTRACT
In ancient times the opulent and civilized found it difficult to defend themselves against the poor and barbarous nations. In modern times the poor and barbarous find it difficult to defend themselves against the opulent and civilized. African militaries have evolved from lightly armed infantry units into mechanized forces and emerging air and sea forces. The characteristics of the past quarter century of African military development have been determined largely by the immediately preceding colonial era. Of certain significance were the effects of the initial colonial conquest and subjugation, which led directly to what Mazrui has termed the "decline of the warrior tradition." Clearly the threats confronting African nations have changed, as manifested in the increase of conflict since the immediate post-independence era. These threats have taken the form of civil wars, expansionist nationalism and irredentism, foreign intervention, and trans border military intervention.
