African army chiefs urged to boost cooperation against security threats

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has urged African armies to forge stronger collaborative efforts to effectively address the escalating security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, and transnational organized crime, that confront the continent.

Shaibu articulated this call to action on Sunday at the Third African Land Forces Forum, held in Port Harcourt as part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026. The forum convened army chiefs and defense representatives from sixteen African nations, including Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, and Uganda, underscoring a shared commitment to deepening military cooperation and promoting continental peace.

He highlighted the forum's role as a vital strategic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of operational experiences. "The initiative aims to strengthen interoperability, build enduring partnerships and develop coordinated responses to terrorism, insurgency and transnational organised crime," Shaibu stated, emphasizing the need for collective action beyond national borders due to the increasing complexity of Africa's security landscape.

Drawing on Nigeria's experience in counter-terrorism operations against groups like Boko Haram, Shaibu noted the effectiveness of adaptive strategies, intensive training, and multinational cooperation. The event also featured exhibitions of modern defense technologies and indigenous innovations, fostering capability development and strategic partnerships among participating countries. Shaibu expressed confidence that the discussions would yield practical outcomes for enhancing peace and security across Africa.

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The initiative aims to strengthen interoperability, build enduring partnerships and develop coordinated responses to terrorism, insurgency and transnational organised crime.