…Says, ‘Place human being first’
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a sweeping call for Africa to break free from external manipulation and build a security framework rooted in accountable governance, continental solidarity, and technological sovereignty.
Speaking at the third Mashariki Cooperation Conference (MCC III), he urged African intelligence chiefs and security leaders to confront the continent’s deepening geopolitical vulnerabilities with radical clarity and courage.
Under the theme, ‘Emerging Geopolitical Dynamics and Africa’s Security Architecture,’ the 89-year-old statesman—who turns 90 this year—drew on over six decades of experience as a soldier, head of state, and mediator. He argued that Africa’s conflicts are not inevitable, but the direct result of leadership failures and external interference.
“We are witnessing the fracturing of the post-1945 multilateral order,” Obasanjo told delegates. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… and the international community’s deeply inconsistent response to conflicts from Gaza to the Sahel have demonstrated that the rules-based international order is applied selectively.”
He painted a stark picture of a “new scramble for Africa,” pointing to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Russian proxy forces operating across the Sahel and Horn of Africa, and the expulsion of French forces—moves that have created security vacuums quickly filled by others. Terrorism, violent extremism, and a “coup epidemic” since 2020, he warned, have compounded the crisis.
To counter these threats, Obasanjo laid out five concrete propositions for a renewed African security architecture:
One, Primacy of the human being – Place ordinary citizens, not elites, at the centre of security policy.
Two, Genuine continental solidarity and interoperability – Fully resource the African Standby Force and Continental Early Warning System.
Three, Confront the financing of insecurity – Intelligence agencies must lead the fight against illicit financial flows, which dwarf official budgets.
Four, Technological sovereignty – Develop African-owned capabilities in AI, cyber, and drone warfare instead of relying on foreign systems.
Five, Accountable governance – The indispensable foundation without which no security strategy can succeed.
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