African security crisis demands African solutions, says Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Buratai, has warned that Africa faces an unprecedented convergence of existential security threats that demand unified, African-led responses.

The retired general gave the warning at the 32nd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum held in Ethiopia on Friday.

Delivering the keynote presentation titled “Africa’s Priority Security Threats”, the former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (2015–2021) outlined five critical threats: terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crime, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, governance and social unrest, and the erosion of sovereignty through external dependency.

According to him, the Sahel now accounts for nearly half of global terror-related deaths. He said that between January and November 2025 alone, West Africa recorded 450 attacks and more than 1,900 fatalities.

“Burkina Faso presents a complex picture. Under President Ibrahim Traoré, the armed forces have made significant territorial gains, claiming a reconquest rate of 72.70 per cent by June 2025.

“Operation Lalmassga enabled the forces to regain control of dozens of localities. In early 2026, intensified operations killed at least 400 militants. However, deadly jihadist attacks have continued. In February, JNIM launched a deadly offensive, killing dozens. In early July, suspected extremist attacks killed at least 22 soldiers and militia members near Dédougou.”

According to the former Nigerian military chief, the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS in January 2025 has weakened regional intelligence sharing.

“Coastal West African states are increasingly becoming entangled in Sahelian extremism. Attacks in northern Benin increased from 22 in 2021 to 176 in 2024, while the number of deaths doubled between 2022 and 2024.

“Today, West Africa faces unprecedented interlocking threats that blur the lines between terrorism financing, piracy and cyber fraud. The Gulf of Guinea accounted for 87 per cent of all crew kidnappings globally in the first half of 2025, while piracy incidents rose by 25 per cent.

“Cyber threats are escalating exponentially. Kenya recorded 840 million cyber threat events in the fourth quarter of 2024, rising by 201.7 per cent to 2.54 billion in the first quarter of 2025—equivalent to nearly five attacks per citizen within three months. Terrorist groups are increasingly using artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and deepfakes against African states.

“Civil unrest is also increasing across the continent. The year 2025 witnessed two military coups and one failed coup attempt, bringing the total number of African countries under military rule to eight. Financial exclusion, weak institutions and failing public services are being exploited by armed groups.

“Outsourcing security to external actors comes at a high cost to sovereignty and long-term peace. African governments are pushing for data sovereignty and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. Geopolitical pressure arising from US-China competition is placing African nations under significant strain.

“The threats confronting Africa are no longer isolated national challenges but shared regional crises,” General Buratai declared. “The principle of ‘African solutions to African problems’ must shift from slogan to reality.”

General Buratai issued an urgent appeal to the international parliamentary community, saying that while African nations are determined to take ownership of their security, they lack the resources to match their ambition. He called on partner nations, international organisations and foundations to contribute to a dedicated African Security Capacity Fund.

“Such contributions would accelerate the operationalisation of the African Standby Force, strengthen AFRIPOL’s intelligence-sharing mechanisms and support community-based counter-extremism programmes.

“The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of investment,” Buratai said. “Every dollar invested in African-led security is a dollar saved from the human and economic devastation of unchecked terrorism. We ask not for charity but for partnership—partnership that respects African agency while empowering African institutions to protect African lives.”