By Bavoriat Clara
History was written in Abuja this week as Africa’s top military leaders gathered for the first-ever African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit 2025, a landmark event that brought together defence chiefs, security experts, diplomats, and captains of industry under one roof to chart a new course for the continent’s peace and security.
For three days, the Nigerian capital transformed into a hub of strategic dialogue where the pressing challenges confronting Africa from terrorism, insurgency, and piracy to cyber warfare, trafficking, and radicalization were confronted with candour and foresight.
The summit, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” culminated in a bold call for unity and collective action.
At the closing ceremony, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described the summit as “a truly historic and enriching engagement” that marks not an end, but the beginning of Africa’s renewed security cooperation.
“This is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter for Africa’s collective peace and stability,” he said. “Our strongest defence is collaboration. Our greatest weapon is unity. Together, we can secure the continent.”
Accorsing to him, key deliberations throughout the summit, participants engaged in plenaries and breakout sessions that addressed:Border Security and Regional Cooperation Chiefs of Defence Staff underscored that porous borders fuel terrorism, armed banditry, trafficking, and other cross-border crimes.
He stressed the need for integrated security frameworks, joint operations, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.Counter-Radicalization and Terrorism Delegates unanimously agreed that radicalization remains a central threat, noting that “terrorism anywhere in Africa is a threat to peace everywhere in Africa.” They emphasized the urgency of coordinated de-radicalization and rehabilitation programmes.
General Musa stated that the summit explored how innovation, AI, and emerging defence technologies can play a transformative role in both combat operations and wider security management.
He called for greater investment in indigenous defence industries and sustainable financing models to reduce dependency on foreign partners and ensure African-led solutions to African problems, while Recognizing Africa’s young population, the summit emphasized engaging youths as stakeholders in peace and security to safeguard the continent’s future.
Also, the Chief of Defence Staff revealed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026, which will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria. The exhibition is expected to serve as a platform for showcasing African defence innovations, attracting investment, and strengthening international defence cooperation.
Furthermore, General Musa urged participants to ensure that the rich recommendations of the summit are not confined to the halls of Abuja but translated into tangible actions across the continent.
“Let us take these outcomes back to our countries, our institutions, and our leaders. Let this summit be remembered as a turning point in Africa’s security architecture,” he said.
He expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his support in hosting the summit, as well as to African Heads of State, defence ministers, service chiefs, and partners who made the event successful and also commended the organizing committee, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and international partners for ensuring a seamless gathering.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a communiqué outlining strategies for deeper regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and collective response to emerging threats.
As General Musa put it: “Africa’s peace, security, and prosperity are not distant aspirations, but attainable realities provided we unite, work together, and translate collaborations into action. Our borders may divide us, but our destiny binds us.”
With the inaugural edition now concluded, the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit is expected to become a regular platform, rotating across African regions in future editions to further cement continental solidarity.
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