Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has urged African nations to take charge of their security challenges rather than depending on foreign interventions.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Africa’s Priority Security Threats” at the 32nd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Buratai identified five pressing threats: terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crime, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, governance instability, and the erosion of sovereignty through external dependence.
He stressed that “Africa can no longer rely solely on external interventions,” calling for deeper regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and investment in indigenous security capabilities.
Buratai highlighted the Sahel as the global epicentre of terrorism, noting that nearly half of worldwide terror-related deaths occur there.
Between January and November 2025, West Africa recorded about 450 terrorist attacks, resulting in more than 1,900 fatalities.While Burkina Faso reclaimed over 70% of occupied territory under President Ibrahim Traoré’s Operation Lalmassga, extremist groups such as JNIM continue to mount deadly assaults.
Recent military operations eliminated hundreds of militants, yet the threat persists.Buratai also warned that the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS has weakened regional intelligence-sharing.
Extremism, he cautioned, is spreading into coastal states, with northern Benin experiencing a surge in attacks.On organised crime, he pointed to terrorism financing, piracy, arms trafficking, drug smuggling, and cybercrime as interconnected threats exploiting weak borders and fragile governance.
He urged African governments to prioritize cyber defence, protect critical infrastructure, and strengthen cooperation against digital threats.
Buratai concluded that lasting security will depend on stronger institutions, enhanced intelligence collaboration, economic resilience, and sustained political commitment.
Meanwhile, recent reports confirm that US Africa Command (AFRICOM), under orders from the US President, carried out precision airstrikes in northeastern Nigeria targeting ISIS operatives, eliminating multiple fighters.
These operations follow earlier strikes, including controversial Christmas Day bombings in Sokoto State, which drew both praise and scrutiny over foreign intervention.
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