By Saminu Ibrahim
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has called for stronger continental cooperation, intelligence sharing and interoperability among African armed forces to tackle terrorism, transnational organised crime and emerging security threats.
Matawalle made the call while delivering Nigeria’s address at the 18th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS) and the 21st Ordinary Meeting of African Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Safety and Security in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Addressing Defence Ministers, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Chiefs of Defence Staff and members of the diplomatic corps, the minister said the relevance of the STCDSS had become more critical amid increasingly complex and interconnected security challenges across the continent.
He identified terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crime, human and arms trafficking, piracy, cyber threats, unconstitutional changes of government and communal conflicts as major threats requiring collective action.
“These threats are not confined by national borders. Consequently, no single country can effectively address them in isolation,” Matawalle said.
He urged stronger collaboration among the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and member states, alongside enhanced intelligence sharing, joint multinational operations and sustained political commitment to the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Standby Force (ASF).
According to him, the successes recorded through joint operations demonstrate that coordinated action and intelligence sharing can significantly weaken terrorist and criminal networks.
Matawalle also drew attention to the changing nature of security threats driven by emerging technologies, including drones, artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities being used for recruitment, radicalisation, financial crimes and other illicit activities.
He called for greater investment in technological innovation, research and development, intelligence capabilities and human capital, stressing that technology must be deployed responsibly and in accordance with international law.
The minister further said military responses alone could not resolve the continent’s security challenges, noting that poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, limited access to education and social services, climate pressures and inadequate economic opportunities were among the root causes of insecurity.
“Our approach to security must therefore be comprehensive. Military and security responses must be complemented by effective governance, youth empowerment, education, economic development, strengthened justice systems and social inclusion,” he said.
Matawalle reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the principle of “African solutions to African problems”, pledging the country’s continued participation in regional and continental peace support operations, counter-terrorism initiatives and capacity-building programmes.
He commended the African Union and the STCDSS for their contributions to peace, security and stability on the continent and expressed hope that the deliberations would produce practical measures to address Africa’s evolving security challenges.
The meeting brought together Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Safety and Security from AU member states to deliberate on practical and sustainable responses to the continent’s security challenges.
