Buratai Urges Integration of Military Strategy in Global Peacebuilding
Former Chief of Army Staff and Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), has called for the integration of military leadership into global peace and diplomatic frameworks.
Buratai made this call through his representative, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Kabir Galadanci (rtd), while addressing a one-day United Nations General Assembly simulation organized by the Department of Political Science at the Nigerian Army University, Biu.
He emphasized the growing role of military officers beyond the battlefield, noting that today’s global challenges demand leaders who possess both strategic military insight and diplomatic acumen.
“Modern military commanders must be active participants in peace negotiations, conflict mediation, and multilateral collaborations,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s robust legacy in global peacekeeping, Buratai recalled the country’s contribution to the UN mission in Congo in 1960 and its leadership in various ECOWAS peace enforcement operations.
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“Nigeria has deployed over 200,000 troops across 41 peacekeeping missions, including in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia,” he stated.
Buratai acknowledged the operational and funding challenges faced by the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) but maintained that it served as a model for regional peace enforcement and cooperation in West Africa.
He also linked Nigeria’s current internal security issues—such as insurgency, banditry, and communal violence—to its limited capacity for broader international engagement.
To enhance Nigeria’s role in global peace, he advocated for greater investment in defence training, modern military technology, and improved civil-military relations.
Buratai further reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for reform of global governance institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, stressing the need for permanent African representation. “A permanent African seat is not merely symbolic—it is critical for fair and inclusive decision-making on global peace and security,” he asserted.
By PRNigeria
