Via:Gov.br

“Under Brazil’s leadership, member countries of ZOPACAS adopted, this Thursday (9), in Rio de Janeiro, the first Cooperation Strategy of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS), with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation in marine environment, security, science, and sustainable development, among other areas vital to the region’s development. The initiative was formalized during the group’s 9th Ministerial Meeting, which brings together 24 countries from both shores of the South Atlantic.

The meeting also marked the beginning of Brazil’s presidency of ZOPACAS for the next three years, succeeding Cape Verde, and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the mechanism, established in 1986 by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. The new strategy inaugurates a phase of more structured action oriented toward concrete results, as highlighted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, in his speech.

“The Rio de Janeiro Cooperation Strategy inaugurates an innovative approach, with planned actions and active participation of member countries,” stated the minister.

According to him, building a secure and sustainable South Atlantic requires continuous collaboration among countries in the region and a commitment to protecting the marine environment and promoting sustainable development. The Cooperation Strategy defines 11 priority areas for joint action, with initiatives aimed at strengthening ocean governance and sustainable development in the region.

Among the themes included are:

Cooperation in defense and maritime security
Oceanographic research and climate change
Conservation of marine biodiversity
Sustainable fisheries and food security
Protection of critical infrastructure
Connectivity and logistical integration among countries”

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Via:AfricaNews

“Three years into Sudan’s war, Kordofan has become the most intense battleground between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with civilians increasingly caught in a deadly drone war.

In South Kordofan’s Dilling, trader Hamed Hamidan says drones are a constant presence. “They never leave the city,” he said, describing the fear they bring. Across the region, near-daily strikes are hitting markets, homes and hospitals, often killing dozens at a time.

The United Nations says more than 500 civilians were killed by drone strikes between January and mid-March alone, highlighting the growing use of advanced yet relatively cheap weapons in populated areas.

Residents in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, say they can now distinguish between drone types. Smaller “suicide drones” explode on impact, while larger “strategic drones” can travel long distances, carry heavier payloads and return to base.

Both sides are believed to be using foreign-supplied technology. According to Amnesty International, the RSF has access to Chinese-made drones, while the Sudanese army deploys Turkish and Iranian models.

The impact on daily life has been devastating. Aid groups say strikes disrupt food supplies, drive traders away and push prices higher in areas already facing famine risks.

As fighting drags on without a decisive outcome, drone attacks have spread to previously safer areas. In many towns, civilians have adapted to survival routines, fleeing at the first sign of drones overhead, as fear becomes a constant part of life.”

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II International Seminar on Security and Defense in Africa

CEBRAFRICA invites the academic community to participate in the II International Seminar on Security and Defense in Africa, held within the framework of the project “Security and Defense in Africa: Characteristics, Changes, and Impacts on Brazil’s Strategic Environment” (PRO-DEFESA V – CAPES/MD).

The event aims to foster debate on security and defense dynamics in the African continent and their impacts on Brazil, bringing together national and international scholars and experts.

Date: May 27–28, 2026
Location: Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) – Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
Format: In-person
Certification: Issued to participants with at least 75% attendance

The seminar will address topics such as theoretical and methodological foundations, transformations in the international system, security and defense dynamics and policies, as well as Africa–Brazil relations and the South Atlantic.

Target audience: researchers, faculty members, students, and professionals in the fields of International Relations, Political Science, Defense, and African Studies.

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