How Ghost Soldiers Threaten International Security

Investigative journalist Jordan Siegel reports on the international threats posed by “ghost soldiers” from Ghana to Sudan to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In failed or failing states, political elites often inflate military payrolls – with “ghost soldiers” – to embezzle public funds and maintain their patronage networks. Such practices corrupt militaries, breed political instability, create opportunities for terrorist groups to exploit, and can cause governments to fall.

Thursday, November 6, 2025, 3-5 p.m.

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