Technologies of Violence in Africa

This chapter examines how military violence has occurred in Africa since the turn of the twenty-first century. In particular, it discusses the various technologies of such violence paying into consideration the increased role of the Chinese on the African continent, the deteriorating political and economic outlook as well as the rise of religious fundamentalism. In doing this, we assess how combatants (youths, rebels, government security forces, and religious sects) have systematically appropriated various arts, devices, systems, tools, materials, procedures, and knowledge in order to commit their violence, usually on non-combatants. Thus, in investigating the dynamics of civil war violence in Africa we also discuss weapons of various kinds, as well as the “technology of repression” which includes methods of torture and incarceration.