By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Chiefs of Defence across the African continent have been advised to commit resources towards procuring modern tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) as a means of defeating threats posed by terror organisations, such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and others.
“As chiefs of defence staff and heads of our Armed Forces, we must lead the charge in organising our forces, investing in cyber-defence, artificial intelligence and indigenous military technology, without which it will be difficult to achieve our security,” Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa said at a conference of Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff in the capital, Abuja on Monday.
Security threats have evolved across the continent, hence the need for a digital solution to defeat some of the “invisible” enemies threatening the territorial integrity of nations in Africa, Musa stated.
“The battlefield is evolving, the threats of today are no longer confined to conventional warfare; they are digital, asymmetric and often invisible – the enemy is within”.
He reiterated Nigeria’s “deep” commitment to the ideals of regional stability and continental defence integration, highlighting that the nation’s Armed Forces have participated in peace-keeping operations and counter-terrorism missions across Africa.
“We believe that true security is not achieved in isolation; it is built through shared intelligence, joint training and coordinated actions”, Musa said.
He said Nigeria stands ready to work with the rest of the nation on the continent to develop frameworks that are proactive, resilient and responsive to the realities of today.
General Musa tasked his colleague defence chiefs to rise above division and embrace unity to build a continent free of insurgents and bloodthirsty marauders.
Africa remains the epicentre of global terrorism, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 59 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide, the UN Security Council was informed January during a counter-terrorism meeting.
Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations while painting a bleak picture of the threat’s complexity said Al-Qaida and Da’esh affiliates have spread their deadly tentacles to West Africa’s coastal countries, with violent attacks soaring by 250 per cent in two years.
Terrorist groups, such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia, the Allied Democratic Forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama in Mozambique, continue to unleash horrific violence, she said.
