CDS Highlights Pan-African Security Priorities Ahead of Defence Chiefs’ Summit
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has outlined key Pan-African security priorities as the continent prepares for the upcoming African Defence Chiefs’ Summit, stressing the need for deeper regional cooperation to tackle emerging threats.
Speaking during a pre-summit media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, General Musa said Africa’s security challenges from terrorism and violent extremism to piracy and cyber threats demand a coordinated, continent-wide approach anchored on intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity building among member states.
He emphasised that no African nation can afford to work in isolation given the transnational nature of most security threats, noting that instability in one country often spills over to its neighbours.
According to him, building resilience requires not just military strength but also political will, strong institutions, and community-level engagement.
Read Also:
“The African Defence Chiefs’ Summit provides us with a rare opportunity to harmonise our strategies, close operational gaps, and reaffirm our shared responsibility for peace and stability,” Musa said, adding that the meeting would also focus on maritime security, counter-insurgency best practices, and enhancing peacekeeping effectiveness.
He commended the African Union (AU) and regional blocs such as ECOWAS, SADC, and IGAD for their role in promoting collective defence frameworks, while calling for sustained investment in defence technology, logistics, and human resource development to meet evolving threats.
The CDS also urged greater collaboration between the military and civilian stakeholders, particularly in post-conflict reconstruction and deradicalisation programmes, to address the root causes of insecurity across the continent.
The African Defence Chiefs’ Summit, scheduled to hold later this month, will bring together military leaders from across the continent, alongside security experts and policymakers, to deliberate on actionable steps for strengthening Africa’s security architecture.
By PRNigeria
