By Evelyn Usman

As the global landscape continues to shift, African leaders and their military have been advised to chart own paths in addressing the persistent conflicts, violent extremism and militarisation of the political space, rather than relying on the goodwill of external entities.

This admonition was given by the Head, African Peace and Security Governance Programme at the Institute for Security Studies, Dr. Andre Atta-Asamoah, at the induction of the African Union Peace and Security Council, AU-PSC, Military Staff Committee, MSC, hosted by the Nigerian Army at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

The MSC is composed of senior military officers (defence attaches) from the AU 15 members Peace and Security Council countries. 

It is the highest multilateral institution on the African continent charged with the responsibility of providing a continental approach and mechanisms in addressing matters of peace and security on the continent, akin to the United Nations Security Council, UNSC.

The occasion was the induction of three new members in addition to the old ones, comprising senior military officers and political leaders from Egypt, Sierra-Leone, Angola, Botswana, Angola, Ghana, Benin Republic, Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia and Cameroun, among others, who were in attendance.

Atta-Asamoah said the call for action became necessary, following the recent televised meetings between world leaders, such as US President, Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, which showcased the changing nature of diplomacy.

He said:  “Not long ago, the world watched as a televised meeting between the US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President, Zelensky, that generated interest and full of extremist, laced with false accusations, outright representation of misrepresentation of facts, and a show of power by one state over another. 

‘’As if that was not enough, another televised incident unfolded in the Oval office last week, when President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa had to sit through a meeting, part of which sought to establish the false narrative that there is white genocide in South Africa.

“Both occurrences, broadcast for the world to see, served as a public display of the changing nature of diplomacy in our world today. The world’s superpower that once stood for a fine diplomacy, accurate intelligence and thoughtful engagement has now become one that sometimes finds it difficult to distinguish facts from fiction, and one that sometimes falls prey to the false narratives of interest groups advancing narrow parochial interests.

“At the ongoing trade war, and its resulting collateral damage on African countries to these happenings, it becomes clear that the world has changed. The survival of any group of people can, therefore, no longer be hanged on the goodwill of any particular superpower, or any entity believed to have the world’s best interest at heart. 

‘’As Africans, this is perhaps one of the biggest reclaim calls to our continent that we should chart our own paths and guard our own destinies.

“The sad part is that Africa is rather so stuck in the reality of persistent conflicts, the spread of violent extremism to new areas, the militarisation of the political space, and unjustified term extensions. We are still hoping to achieve peace in funding from elsewhere, rather than from the sons and daughters of our own soil. 

‘’Despite the fact that lives are being lost, it appears there is no sense of urgency on the part of some of our leaders.  That is the situation we are in as a people. 

‘’That is what informs the expectations of the women and children outside this room that the able men of the military staff committee gathered here today, can play their roles in supporting their ambassadors in finding realistic and sustainable solutions to, at least, some of the many challenges they face.

‘’Indeed, if we are going to fulfill the dreams of our forefathers, it is always that Africans by now would have been masters of our own destinies. It is imperative that our generation leads the way to find the solutions that our next generation can enjoy.”

He, therefore, charged members to move from analysis and discussions to a resolve for action and from conversation to concrete steps,  expressing optimism that the meeting would be another meaningful step in supporting decision making towards placing skills, expertise and experience at their disposal .

In his keynote address , representative of the federal government and Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Air Vice Marshal Basir Mamman, said to effectively address Africa’s security challenges, participants must adopt a purpose rooted in solidarity, Africanism and a shared imperative to act.

He noted that the approach would enable them develop innovative solutions and strategic partnerships that benefit the continent.

He said: “ It must be a concern to all of us that terrorism and insecurity continue to plague the continent. Through this induction, we must seek to foster our relevance as a committee by deepening the understanding of global security dynamics and foster collaborative approaches that will enable us  deliver invaluable contributions and counsel to the peace and security council.”

He urged the members to “ bilaterally and multilaterally prioritise the imperative of sharing intelligence. Criminal and terrorist elements on our continent share a bond which we can only shatter by collective action. 

‘’As you embark on this journey, I implore you to approach the induction with an open mind-set, a spirit of cooperation and a resolute sense of purpose.”

Earlier in his opening address, the Chairman, Military Staff Committee, Lt. Gen.Abubakar Counte, said the induction program came at a critical juncture in Africa’s collective security journey, marked by complex threats from armed conflicts,cyber warfare, and transnational crime.

He, therefore, called for the need to revisit the military staff committee’s core mandate and working methods to enhance resilience and coordination.

“The military staff committee plays a vital role in providing expert military guidance on strategic decisions and peace support operations, contributing to Africa’s collective security architecture, including the African Standby Force. 

‘’Its function is strategic, rooted in African solidarity and ownership of peace processes. This induction will explore key areas, including the committee’s relationship with the peace and security council, coordination with the African standby force, and improving responsiveness and cohesion.

‘’Participants will share experiences, build synergy and elevate the committee’s role within the African peace and security framework.”