Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigerian Minister of External Affairs and the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, revealed that over 1,000 insurgent groups are currently operating throughout Africa.
He delivered this message during his goodwill address at the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit 2025, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” held on Monday in Abuja. The summit saw participation from representatives of 36 out of 54 African nations.
Gambari emphasized the necessity for African countries to prioritize their own security before addressing regional and continental stability. He urged nations to enhance their defense capabilities and develop indigenous technologies to effectively combat threats.
He stated, “We must first secure our countries before we can secure our regions and the continent. By securing Nigeria, we position ourselves at the forefront of regional and continental security efforts. There are over 1,000 insurgent groups operating in Africa.”
Omar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), highlighted that the Sahel region accounted for 51% of fatalities in 2024. Represented by ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, Touray called on the United Nations to allocate funding for at least 75% of African-led counter-terrorism operations.
Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Christopher Musa noted that the challenges facing the continent transcend national borders, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to work alongside regional partners in combating terrorism and other threats.
Musa stated, “The enemy is within; therefore, we must be the architects of our defense and security.”
(NAN)
