Of the 55 hijackings or attempted hijackings during this period, 10 were terminated or aborted by security forces, and 45 were successful. Pistols and grenades were the weapons most often used in the hijackings, and most incidents were politically or ideologically motivated. African governments are parties to international conventions that have spawned antihijacking and sabotage laws in African countries. The hijacking problem persists in Africa, however, due largely to inadequate technological knowledge, outmoded security/surveillance equipment, flawed inspection and screening procedures, inadequate airplane crew training, and inadequate airport facilities. Preventive measures should be improved by inspecting and screening all passengers and cabin baggage prior to departure, reducing the amount of cabin baggage alloted each passenger, prohibiting the mixing of controlled passengers and uncontrolled persons after security gates, instituting identification procedures, using armed guards at all times at gates and airport terminals, establishing specially trained units to neutralize hijackers, and updating equipment and personnel training. 3 data tables and 24 notes.