African Chiefs of Defence Staff have reaffirmed their commitment to collective security, stressing unity as the strongest weapon against evolving threats such as terrorism, piracy, and cyber warfare across the continent.
Speaking at the closing of the African Chiefs of Defence summit in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, emphasised that the continent must continue to harness its unity to build a safer and more secure Africa.
General Musa said that “the summit reinforced the importance of cooperation in addressing common security challenges.”
He noted that the gathering was more than a meeting of military leaders but a declaration of Africa’s determination to take ownership of its peace, stability, and future.
According to him, the recognition that Africa’s strongest defence lies in strategic collaboration marks a turning point in how the continent confronts threats.
“The summit explored critical areas for advancing regional security, including defence collaboration, intelligence sharing, joint training, investments in indigenous technologies, and youth engagement.”
“The outcomes reflect a collective resolve to strengthen continental defence systems and secure long-term stability,” he said.
He noted that the first plenary of this summit discussed the need for more effective border management and regional security cooperation.
“During this discussion, we recognised that porous borders fuel terrorism, trafficking and armed banditry, and we stressed the need for integrated security frameworks to address these challenges. It was evident that sharing intelligence, conducting joint operations and coordinating counter-radicalisation efforts are essential”, he said.
He stressed that counter-radicalisation efforts remain non-negotiable as terrorism anywhere on our continent is a threat to peace everywhere in Africa.
Furthermore, their exploration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies highlighted the crucial role of innovation in boosting early warning systems, improving situational awareness and disrupting hostile networks.
In addition, their deliberations on financing African defence and leveraging public-private partnerships reveal the centrality of sustainable resourcing for defence.
He stressed that Africa must increasingly look inward, developing indigenous industries, fostering innovation and strengthening defence economies to reduce dependency and build resilience.
“Our conversation on maritime security reminded us of the immense economic promise of Africa’s waters as well as the vulnerabilities they present. The Gulf of Guinea, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean coast all require not just naval capacity, but also strong regional partnerships to secure vital maritime trade routes”, he added.
He noted that they also had the opportunity to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the International Defence Exhibition 2026, which will be held in Lagos, Nigeria.
“With the adoption of this summit’s communiqué, I am very optimistic that we will take all proactive steps to elevate the African continent to greatness. As we prepare to return to our respective countries, I urge us all not to let these rich discussions remain within these conference halls. Let us effectively translate our recommendations into policies, strategies and joint actions.
“Let this summit be a turning point for decisive and collective actions as we plan towards the next summit,” he said.
He noted that the summit has been truly successful.
“Our borders may divide us, but our destinations bind us,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde who read the communique highlighted the objectives of the summit which were to initiate discussions on collective strategies for African security issues, facilitate collaborative response to peace and security issues in Africa, develop mechanisms for integrating the private sector into Africa’s defence efforts, and to establish a roundtable for the initiation of homegrown solutions to Africa’s defence needs.
He said that “the summit was attended by 37 Chiefs of Defence Staff, or their duly mandated representatives”.
The summit was opened by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Resolutions
The Chiefs of Defence Staff affirmed their commitment to collaborate to further boost Africa’s peace and security by pulling efforts together towards homegrown security cooperation initiatives in the region, expressing their willingness to work together towards collectively combating contemporary threats to regional peace and security in Africa.
The summit deliberated on emerging threats and opportunities for cooperation, with defence chiefs recommending a continental AI strategy, stronger digital infrastructure, and greater investment in education and innovation to boost Africa’s security capacity.
They also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in financing critical projects, including surveillance systems, training centres, and cyber defence initiatives.
On maritime security, the summit called for enhanced regional frameworks, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships to tackle piracy, illegal fishing, and other transnational threats.
In a landmark decision, the Chiefs of Defence Staff resolved to institutionalise the summit as an annual event under the African Union framework to sustain collective action for peace and security across the continent.