Security Challenges In Africa Requires Strong Continental Cooperation – Matawalle

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has lamented over the security challenges plaguing African nations.

Speaking at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja on Monday, the Minister called for strong collaboration to tackle the challenges.

Matawalle, who represented the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, said the continent faced what he described as serious and evolving security threats.

He said, “These challenges are complex, transnational, and increasingly asymmetric. Tackling them requires not just resilience but also strong continental cooperation.

“Today we take an important step forward, we affirm that Africa’s security must be driven by Africa’s solutions, leadership, and unity.”

According to the minister, Nigeria has played a leading role in promoting regional peace and security.

He stated that the nation’s armed forces had been involved in peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and humanitarian missions in Africa and beyond.

Matawalle reiterated the military’s commitment to strengthening the defence partnership to support peace, development, and democratic values.

The minister urged African nations to invest in modern technology like artificial intelligence (AI) to defeat monstrous terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda, and Al-Shabaab, wreaking havoc in parts of the continent.

He said that a digital solution was needed to defeat some of the enemies threatening the territorial integrity of nations in Africa.

“This summit reflects our beliefs that no single country can scale the continent alone. We must work together to share intelligence and build trust among defence institutions.

“The future of welfare is digital. As defence ministers, we must invest in cyberdefence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technologies.

“Africa must not just keep up with global trends, but we must take the lead in shaping them. Let this summit serve as a platform for strategic planning,” Matawalle told the participants.