…landmark gathering to unite defence leaders from 54 nations in shaping Africa’s collective security strategy
By Nkechi Eze
For decades, Nigeria has been at the forefront of Africa’s peacekeeping and conflict-resolution efforts from leading ECOMOG interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, to spearheading multinational counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin. With a strategic location, the continent’s largest economy, and one of Africa’s most battle-tested militaries, the nation has consistently played a pivotal role in shaping security dynamics across the region. Now, that leadership mantle is set to shine once again as Abuja prepares to host the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit 2025, a gathering poised to shape the future of Africa’s collective defence strategy.
Scheduled for August 25–27, the summit will convene defence leaders from across all 54 African nations with more than 90 percent confirming attendance to confront the continent’s most urgent security threats and chart a united path forward. Themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration”, the high-level meeting will be a rallying point for intelligence sharing, joint training, coordinated responses to transnational threats, and homegrown defence innovations.
Speaking at a pre-summit press conference in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, underscored Nigeria’s readiness not only to secure its own territory but also to safeguard the African region and contribute to global peace initiatives.
“The summit will be a platform for African countries to sit down, look at our challenges, and proffer solutions as Africans, brothers, and sisters because charity begins at home,” he stated.
The programme which will be hosted at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and will feature a keynote address by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Her Excellency Amina Mohammed. Alongside plenary sessions and technical discussions, a defence exhibition will run concurrently, showcasing Africa’s capabilities in military technology, logistics, and indigenous production. A gala night will provide opportunities for informal networking and cultural exchange.
The CDS revealed that discussions will tackle a wide spectrum of threats, including terrorism and violent extremism from groups such as Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and ISIS affiliates; rising incidents of banditry, kidnappings, and piracy; maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea; and emerging cyber threats targeting defence systems. Other concerns on the agenda include the climate-security nexus, natural resource conflicts, migration pressures, and environmental stressors, especially in sensitive regions like the Lake Chad Basin.
General Musa emphasised that the summit will focus heavily on improving interoperability among African militaries, enhancing defence diplomacy, harmonising strategies among regional blocs such as ECOWAS, SADC, and EAC, and integrating the private sector into defence resourcing. There will also be deliberations on investment in technology, logistics, personnel training, indigenous defence production, and youth engagement through cadet programmes and military academies.
Key objectives include producing a unified African security strategy, establishing frameworks for joint military training and intelligence sharing, and strengthening both bilateral and multilateral security partnerships.
“Our goal is to secure our continent,” General Musa declared, adding that African nations must “step up to take charge of their responsibilities” rather than depend on external actors.
Appreciating President Tinubu for his unwavering support of the armed forces, the CDS also extended gratitude to Nigerians for their continuous encouragement, stressing that defeating asymmetric warfare requires the combined effort of the government, the military, and the civilian population.
“We will do whatever it takes to ensure our dear country is safe and secure, our region is safe and secure, and our continent is safe and secure,” he affirmed.
With over 200 million people and a landmass exceeding 923,000 square kilometres, Nigeria’s military, economic, and diplomatic weight make it a natural convener for this historic gathering. As the CDS concluded,
“This summit will project Nigeria back to where it used to be, as a leader in African peace, security, and cooperation.”
