African Defence Chiefs Call for United Front Against Insecurity as Abuja Summit Concludes - THENEWSGIST
African Defence Chiefs Call for United Front Against Insecurity as Abuja Summit Concludes - THENEWSGIST
The inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit has officially concluded in Abuja, Nigeria, with thirty-seven Defence Chiefs urging stronger continental collaboration to combat insecurity and terrorism across Africa.
The six-day summit tackled a wide range of pressing issues, including border management, regional security, strategic defence cooperation, the role of artificial intelligence in security, public-private partnerships in defence resourcing, and maritime threats.
The Defence Chiefs emphasised that Africa’s destiny transcends the colonial borders that once divided it.
They criticised the continent’s inherited economic and technological frameworks, asserting that these systems are inadequate for Africa’s development.
Instead, they called for homegrown infrastructure and innovation tailored to the continent’s unique needs.
The summit recommended enhanced Defence Cooperation, calling for African nations to coordinate joint operations and strengthen ties among their Defence Forces.
The summit also recommended Smart Border Control, where the Chiefs of Defence emphasised the adoption of intelligent systems to facilitate free movement while safeguarding against transnational crimes, and designating border areas as hubs for socio-economic growth and improved security. They called for community Involvement in border security management.
The Summit also recommended ways of combatting terrorism by establishing early warning systems, capacity-building initiatives, and tackling root causes such as poverty and weak governance.
Other recommendations included developing a continental framework for ethical Artificial Intelligence use in security, alongside talent development and joint research, utilising African Development Bank funds for military bases, training centres, surveillance drones, and logistics and strengthening legal frameworks and resource-sharing to address piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling.
Commander Zambia Army, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele, hailed the summit as a success, stressing that no African nation can tackle insecurity in isolation.
He noted that preserving peace in Africa calls for concerted efforts from all member states.
The summit concluded with a unanimous recommendation to institutionalise the gathering as an annual event, with dates for the 2026 edition to be announced.
