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Conway Waddington

@conwaywaddington.bsky.social

49 followers 150 following 0 posts

Focused on African conflict and security - water wars, UAVs, mercenaries, OSINT stuff.

Videos

Political science 45%

Sociology 17%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Conway Waddington

Michael Cruickshank @cruickshank.bsky.social · 14d

Looks like the FIRMS satellite fire detection system is offline due to the US government shutdown.

Just one more reminder that anyone involved in OSINT or disaster response cannot rely on US space-based assets in any critical role, given the current state of the governing regime in the country.

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Mark Snoeck @snoeck.bsky.social · Aug 6

We traced an armoured vehicle used in a violent attack in Sudan, all the way back to a location in the middle of Libya's desert.

There it was parked, at a location where we found hundreds of other vehicles parked in rows.

Watch our investigation here:
youtu.be/umaFPlwJUKM

#KeepEyesOnSudan

How we found an RSF military camp in the Libyan desert

YouTube video by CIR - Centre for Information Resilience

youtu.be

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · Jul 28

@warmatters.bsky.social @jamesstout.bsky.social
War in Ukraine influence, first images of an optical fiber drone in the Sahel.

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Dr Emma Salisbury @salisbot.bsky.social · Jul 24

Tanks don't need to think!

(Also ARGH)

www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Pentagon suspends participation in think tank events

The move comes a week after the Defense Department pulled out of the Aspen Security Forum due to “the evil of globalism.”

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · Jun 26

Such a crucially important essay that, honestly, I’ve kinda been waiting for.
Read, read, read!
#drones

warontherocks.com/2025/06/i-fo...

I Fought in Ukraine and Here’s Why FPV Drones Kind of Suck – War on the Rocks

warontherocks.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · Jun 14

14.06 #Mali
According to a government communique, while returning from a mission yesterday (presumably taking part in the airstrike against FLA fighters near Aguelhok) the Su-24 was forced to ditch in the Niger river near Gao due to "adverse atmospheric conditions"

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Critical Threats Project @criticalthreats.bsky.social · Jun 13

NEW | Al Shabaab’s 2025 central Somalia offensive is reshaping the conflict’s dynamics.

Recent territorial gains reflect a campaign to reconnect support zones in central and southern Somalia. 1/6

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · Jun 13

An Israeli security official told The Times of Israel, that Mossad *build a #drone base inside Iran*!

“According to the official, Mossad agents set up a drone base on Iranian soil near Tehran. The drones were activated overnight, striking surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel.”

Israel said to renew strikes on Iran as Trump warns attacks will only get worse

US president calls on Tehran to make nuke deal 'before it's too late' * IDF details strike on underground centrifuge facility at Natanz * Mossad publishes video showing covert actions after activating...

www.timesofisrael.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

ProPublica @propublica.org · May 29

THREAD 🧵

Internal State Department records show that months of warnings have become a reality: The Trump administration’s sudden withdrawal of foreign humanitarian aid has brought about death, violence and unrest. 1/

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Chris Osieck @chrisosieck.bsky.social · May 4

A summary worth reading which offers an opportunity for retrospection in the open source research community, as well as to the online behaviour shown in response to this, as harmful words and death threats that have been made, are so not done.

www.404media.co/u-s-denies-p...

U.S. Denies Picking Bombing Targets From Random Twitter Accounts

An anonymous OSINT sleuth mis-identified a quarry as an underground Houthi base. Days later, the Pentagon allegedly struck the site and killed eight people.

www.404media.co

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · Mar 19

abolishing the office of net assessment in favor of (checks notes) white supremacy and Operator Culture™️ is... completely fucking insane. these people are going to lose us a goddamn war

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...

Hegseth Closes Pentagon Office Focused on Future Wars (Gift Article)

The Office of Net Assessment opened more than 50 years ago and developed concepts for possible conflict with U.S. adversaries, including China.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Michela Wrong @michelawrong.bsky.social · Mar 14

Fascinating investigtion into the mercenary outfits Congo hired to fight the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Supermarket guards, truck drivers and ‘very big mistakes’: the failed role of western mercenaries in the fall of Goma

An investigation into the DRC’s use of hundreds of hired Romanian fighters reveals how a disorganised operation with untrained recruits became a deadly ‘circus’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Yvan Guichaoua @yguichaoua.bsky.social · Feb 27

Conspiracists in Nigeria have enjoyed very much US Congressman Scott Perry's allegations that USAID was financing Boko Haram. Sahel military regimes love this theory, too, and the story has eventually been picked and presented as "look, even America says it, our suspicion is vindicated!" 1/

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Critical Threats Project @criticalthreats.bsky.social · Feb 25

NEW Congo War Security Review | The UK sanctioned Rwanda and both the EU and UK suspended defense cooperation with Rwanda due to Rwandan support for M23. 1/3

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Adam Welz @adamwelz.bsky.social · Feb 25

Head up: A massive mine waste spill is currently killing virtually everything in one of #Zambia's major rivers.

A 🧵: On the 18th of February (1 weeka go) a large mine waste dump (aka tailings dam) began to collapse at the Sino Metals mine in #Chambishi, in Zambia's copperbelt. Huge volumes of...

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Shipwreck @shipwreck75.bsky.social · Feb 24

Trump admin considering eliminating U.S. Africa Command as part of downsizing, per two U.S. officials & someone familiar with the discussions. Considering moving AFRICOM to a subcommand position under EUCOM.-NBC

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Hillary Monahan @hillarymonahan.bsky.social · Feb 24

There is a certain subgroup of Gen X/Elder Millenials who grew up when the novelty orangutan pets started attacking their owners and eating their faces off. And those Xennials?

Never forget the news stories.

Ever.

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Shashank Joshi @shashj.bsky.social · Feb 20

“A key finding is that tactical drones are inflicting roughly two-thirds of Russian losses…twice as effective as every other weapon in the Ukr arsenal put together…remarkable…for weapons which did not officially exist in the Ukr mil at start of the war” www.forbes.com/sites/davidh...

New RUSI Report: Drones Now Inflicting Two Thirds Of Russian Losses

A report from UK thinktank RUSI acknowledges — slightly grudgingly — that tactical drones are the most lethal weapon in the Ukrainian arsenal and are transforming warfare

www.forbes.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Conflict and Environment Observatory @ceobs.org · Feb 19

"The only path to a viable future is through a disarmament in our relations not only with one another but also with the rest of the living planet. The alternative unfolds before us, even if we choose to avert our eyes." www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/o...

Opinion | War Is Killing The Planet

In pursuit of empire and domination, of territorial conquest or racial and religious supremacy, wars stand as a stubborn driver of planetary harm.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Wim Zwijnenburg @wammezz.bsky.social · Jan 24

New @planet.com Skysat imagery shows the fires at the Khartoum Refinery and our initial rapid assessment indicates roughly 19 storage tanks destroyed, putting the total number of damaged tanks to over 70 since the start of the #Sudan war, leaving a toxic footprint to deal with in the aftermath

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Unofficial BBCNews (World) Bot @bbcnews-world-rss.bsky.social · Jan 5

M23 seize key DR Congo town of Masisi

It is the second town seized by the group in as many days in the mineral-rich North Kivu province.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Eric Morier-Genoud @emorier.bsky.social · Jan 5

Venâncio will land in Maputo at 8h05. What will happen next? VM invited all authorities to attend alongside his supporters. Fascinating rebound of events 🔥

Reposted by Conway Waddington

WarTranslated (Dmitri) @wartranslated.bsky.social · Dec 28

Insane footage shows Ukrainian drone equipped with shotguns shooting down Russian drones.

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

UK Defence Journal @ukdefencejournal.org.uk · Dec 22

Helsing, a UK-based defence technology firm, today revealed its new HX-2 drone, an AI-enabled autonomous system.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/helsing-unve...

Helsing unveils AI-enabled HX-2 drone

Helsing, a UK-based defence technology firm, today revealed its new HX-2 drone, an AI-enabled autonomous system.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Malachy Browne @malachy.bsky.social · Dec 11

A mammoth investigation by Declan Walsh into the gold rush fueling Sudan's civil war. The paramilitary RSF has extracted $860m worth from mines it seized in Darfur this year alone. Who's profiting? The UAE.

Gift link and 🧵 of some visual reporting. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/w...

The Gold Rush at the Heart of a Civil War (Gift Article)

Famine and ethnic cleansing stalk Sudan. Yet the gold trade is booming, enriching generals and propelling the fight.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

UK Defence Journal @ukdefencejournal.org.uk · Dec 11

The trial against moving aerial targets marks a significant milestone in integrating advanced directed energy weapons into the British Army’s arsenal.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-army...

British Army vehicle fires high energy laser weapon

The trial against moving aerial targets marks a significant milestone in integrating advanced directed energy weapons into the British Army’s arsenal.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Harun Maruf @harunmaruf.bsky.social · Dec 11

BREAKING: Heavy fighting has been reported between Somali govt troops and Jubaland security forces in Raskamboni on Wednesday following dispute over Jubaland leadership election last month.

Both sides have now confirmed about the fighting. Each side accused the other of starting the fight.

Reposted by Conway Waddington

COUPSURE @coupsure.bsky.social · Nov 30

Wonder what impact this will have on Russian ops in Africa. Syria is the main stop for all military forces and equipment sent to Africa.

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · Nov 23

Obama admin instituted PPG to rein in what it regarded as an out of control Pentagon.

Once had a long discussion with a seasoned CT operator who viewed the PPG as unnecessary micromanagement by civilians at the NSC.

But he also acknowledged doing a CT strike in the wrong country prior to the PPG.

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Reposted by Conway Waddington

Shipwreck @shipwreck75.bsky.social · Nov 23

At least six Russian mercenaries were killed in an attack by an al-Qaida-linked group in central Mali, according to a statement by the extremists on its media platform. Via AP

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