Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on African militaries to move beyond discussions and take concrete steps to address the growing security challenges facing the continent.
General Musa made this call on Monday during the opening ceremony of the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit (ACDSS) held in Abuja. The summit brought together military leaders from across Africa to discuss how best to tackle the continent’s complex and changing security landscape.
In his keynote address, the CDS warned that terrorism, cybercrime, cross-border criminal networks, piracy, and climate-related conflicts are all evolving rapidly. He stressed that Africa must keep up by developing joint security structures that reflect modern threats.
“The threats confronting us are borderless, asymmetric, and digital. Africa must rise with equally dynamic responses built on unity, shared intelligence, and joint operations,” General Musa stated.
He said relying on dialogue alone is no longer enough, and that African nations must now commit to actionable military cooperation, including joint training, real-time intelligence sharing, and coordinated counter-terrorism strategies.
General Musa described how new and emerging technologies like cyber warfare and artificial intelligence are already changing how conflicts are fought globally, and Africa is not exempt.
He pointed out that terrorist groups are adopting more sophisticated tactics and leveraging online tools to recruit, plan, and attack — which requires African armed forces to build advanced cyber defence capabilities and improve surveillance and intelligence gathering.
In addition to terrorism, the Defence Chief identified transnational organised crime, such as arms smuggling and human trafficking, as serious threats that affect many African countries. He also highlighted piracy, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, and growing violence linked to climate-related issues, such as farmer-herder clashes and resource-based conflicts.
“These threats are interlinked and no single country can successfully fight them alone,” he warned.
General Musa did not only urge military collaboration on the battlefield but also called for a stronger African defence-industrial base. He said the continent must invest in producing its own weapons, vehicles, surveillance systems, and other defence technology, instead of depending heavily on foreign supplies.
According to him, local production would reduce costs, improve self-reliance, and ensure that African militaries are better equipped to deal with threats in real-time.
“We must move beyond buying and start building. A strong African defence industry is not a luxury — it is a necessity,” he said.
Speaking on Nigeria’s role, the CDS highlighted the country’s ongoing involvement in peacekeeping operations, counterterrorism missions, and humanitarian efforts across West Africa and beyond.
He said Nigeria remains committed to working closely with African partners to improve joint military training, share experiences, and build regional stability.
General Musa also paid tribute to soldiers across the continent who have lost their lives in the line of duty, urging military leaders to honour them by building strong, accountable, and people-focused armed forces.
“The sacrifices of our fallen heroes must inspire us to build armed forces that are strong, accountable, and people-centred,” he added.
Throughout his speech, the Defence Chief repeatedly stressed the importance of unity and interoperability — the ability of different African armed forces to work together smoothly.
He encouraged the creation of shared command structures, joint task forces, and mutual training programmes to enhance military readiness across borders.
He also emphasized the need to develop and rely on African-led solutions, rather than waiting for outside powers to step in.
“Africa must take charge of its security. The time for talk has passed — now is the time for action,” he concluded.
Africa has faced growing insecurity over the past decade. From the insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region to the conflict in Sudan, violence linked to terrorist groups, ethnic tensions, and climate-related disasters continues to threaten peace and development.
International support has played a role, but many experts agree that regional cooperation among African countries is the only sustainable way to tackle these problems.
The African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit (ACDSS) is part of ongoing efforts to deepen military cooperation across the continent. The Abuja summit marks the first of its kind and is expected to become a regular platform for strategic planning and defence collaboration in Africa.
