The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, on Monday said Africa’s greatest security threats now come from within the continent.
Musa spoke while addressing defence chiefs at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja.
The summit was themed ‘Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa’.
Musa explained that warfare on the continent has shifted from traditional battles to digital and asymmetric forms and requires African militaries to modernise.
He said, “The battlefield is evolving, and today’s threats are no longer confined to conventional warfare; they are digital, asymmetric, and often invisible.
“The enemy is within. As CDS and head of our armed forces, we must lead the charge in modernising our forces, investing in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology, without which it will be difficult for us to achieve our security.”
General Musa stressed the need for Africa to establish its own defence industrial base rooted in African design, technology, and innovation instead of relying on foreign suppliers.
He urged defence chiefs to take full advantage of frameworks provided by the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and other regional bodies to tackle insecurity.
“Let us not forget the great men and women who serve in various commands. Many have paid the great price, and we must not allow these plans to go to waste.
“These sacrifices have inspired us to build institutions that must not be neglected,” Musa said.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, had earlier declared the summit open with a call for Africa to produce its own weapons to fight insecurity.
He said the summit symbolised more than just a gathering of military leaders, describing it as a defining moment for African unity against common threats.
According to Tinubu, Africa’s security crises range from insurgency and piracy to cybercrime and organised criminal syndicates, all of which transcend borders.
“None of these tragedies respects borders, and neither should our response,” he said.
Tinubu called for a new collective defence doctrine that emphasises trust, intelligence sharing, and coordinated strategy among African nations.
“We hold no region; security is the foundation on which every peace or progress of a country must stand.
“That is why we must seize this summit not merely as a meeting but as a covenant for different cooperation. Through joint training, harmonised doctrine and interoperated and intra-operated systems.
“We must build a framework where our defence system must speak with one voice and act with one caucus. The nature of warfare has evolved; the threats today are asymmetric, digital and openly visible, so our response must not be less dynamic.
“What is true of our challenges must also be true of our resolve. We cannot neutralise these threats in isolation.
“It is time to forge a new doctrine of collective African defence, one which is built on trust, shared intelligence and coordinated strategy,” he said.
He also urged heavy investment in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military innovation.
According to him, Africa cannot remain a consumer of foreign defence technology but must become a producer and owner of its security tools.
“We must invest in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military innovations. Africa cannot only remain merely consumers; we must be creators, innovators and owners of the tools that secure our tomorrow.
The president further encouraged private sector participation in building the continent’s defence capacity, warning that “investment is the survival of nations.”
He proposed the establishment of a permanent African Chiefs of Defence Forum to sustain dialogue, foresight, and operational coordination.
“The realities of our geography are more than kin; we are bound as family. Sharing not just borders but destiny, and in this family, defence is the first expression of love.
“Let’s institutionalise this spirit of unity and make it a cornerstone of Africa’s security architecture,” Tinubu said.
Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle also addressed the summit, warning that Africa faces increasingly complex threats, including terrorism, insurgency, maritime insecurity, and cyberattacks.
He argued that these challenges can only be defeated through collective continental action.
He said, “The future of warfare is digital and unpredictable.
“As defence leaders, we must embrace innovation in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology.
“We found out that African security must be driven by African solutions, leadership and unity.”
Matawalle stressed the need for regular strategic dialogue among defence leaders and proposed making the summit an annual event.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening defence partnerships at bilateral, multilateral, and regional levels in support of peace, stability, and democratic governance.
