The Department of War has made public a previously classified document describing an encounter with an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) that took place in Africa during 2025. The report, released under the PURSUE policy framework, was handled by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
According to the declassified file, the incident occurred in 2025 above an unspecified area of Africa. The platform involved, which is believed to have been an unmanned aerial system, was flying at roughly 20,000 feet when its onboard sensors identified an anomalous object. The sensors tracked the object for 43 seconds. During that period, the object demonstrated rapid acceleration and a sudden directional shift that surpasses known aerodynamic limits.
The document does not confirm whether the object was also detected by radar. The report is categorized as unresolved, indicating that AARO has not been able to identify the object or link it to any known technology.
The sensor data was gathered using an electro-optical/infrared system, though no video footage has been released to the public. The filename, dow-uap-pr43-unresolved-uap-report-africa-2025, marks this as the 43rd public release under the Department of War’s UAP disclosure initiative. The PURSUE policy framework, which was established in 2023, requires the declassification of UAP reports that do not endanger national security.
AARO has reviewed this case and concluded that it presents no threat to flight safety or national security. Nevertheless, the document acknowledges that the object’s performance characteristics remain unexplained.
This release is part of a wider Department of War effort to enhance transparency around UAP encounters. Prior releases have covered incidents in the Middle East and the Pacific. The Africa case contributes to a growing dataset that AARO uses to identify patterns and potential explanations.
Looking ahead, AARO has the authority to request additional data from the platform’s operators, interview personnel involved, and conduct further analysis of the sensor recordings. The office may also task other intelligence assets to investigate similar phenomena in the region.
The report does not provide a timeline for any further action, but AARO continues to evaluate unresolved cases under the PURSUE framework. The document does not specify the exact location or the type of platform that recorded the encounter.
