— 54 Nations to Unite on Continental Security Strategy
By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, Nigeria – August 14, 2025 — Nigeria is set to host the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit, a landmark gathering that will bring together military leaders from across all 54 African nations to chart a collective path for the continent’s security future.
Scheduled for August 25–27, 2025 in Abuja, the high-level meeting will focus on the theme: “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.” Over 90% of African defence chiefs have confirmed attendance.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said the summit would be a platform for African nations to “sit down, look at our challenges, and proffer solutions as Africans, brothers, and sisters, because charity begins at home.”
The event will be hosted at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and Transcorp Hilton, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially declaring it open. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will deliver the keynote address.
Alongside plenary sessions and technical discussions, a defence exhibition will showcase African innovations in military technology, logistics, and indigenous production, while a gala night will foster cultural exchange and networking.
Key issues on the agenda include:
Combating terrorism, violent extremism, and piracy.
Tackling maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
Countering cyber threats targeting defence systems.
Addressing natural resource conflicts, climate-security risks, and migration pressures.
The summit will also explore ways to boost interoperability among African militaries, harmonise strategies among regional blocs like ECOWAS, SADC, and EAC, and integrate private sector input into defence resources.
General Musa stressed that African nations must take responsibility for their own security rather than relying on external actors: “Our goal is to secure our continent… We will do whatever it takes to ensure our country, our region, and our continent are safe and secure.”
With Nigeria’s strategic influence, economic weight, and peacekeeping legacy, the summit is expected to position the nation as a central player in shaping Africa’s defence future.
