By Olokuta Rofiat
Fifty-four Chiefs of Defence Staff from across Africa are converging on Abuja for the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit, a landmark gathering aimed at finding indigenous solutions to insecurity and strengthening military cooperation across the continent.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is hosting the summit, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu billed to officially declare it open at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.
The three-day event, which begins today, seeks to bolster African-led responses to terrorism, insurgency, piracy, cybercrime, climate-related conflicts, and border insecurity.
It will also address the operational challenges of the African Standby Force, particularly in doctrine, strategy, and funding.
General Musa described the summit as a platform for developing “African solutions to African problems,” stressing the need to reduce reliance on external interventions.
Delegates are also expected to explore ways of integrating the private sector into defence efforts and to showcase indigenous military technologies through exhibitions.
Highlights of the summit include a keynote address by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and a plenary session on border management and regional security to be led by renowned Kenyan lawyer, Prof. PLO Lumumba.
Ahead of the meeting, military delegations have already converged on Abuja, with over 90 percent of the 54 invited nations confirming participation. A delegation from the Republic of Congo was among the first to arrive.
The summit, inspired by the success of ECOWAS-level defence dialogue, is regarded as a major step toward building a more coordinated and self-reliant continental security framework.
Organisers say resolutions from Abuja could reshape Africa’s collective fight against insecurity and strengthen collaboration among defence chiefs.
