President Bola Tinubu has warned against the proliferation of foreign-controlled security models and private military contractors in Africa, arguing that their growing reliance undermines national sovereignty and complicates counter-terrorism efforts across the continent.
Speaking at the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, President Tinubu, who Vice President Kashim Shettima represented, told heads of state and EU leaders that peace efforts must be led and owned by African governments.
“We stand resolutely against the use of private military and security companies in African conflicts, as their presence often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty,” Tinubu stated.
He emphasized that Africa’s security challenges, from terrorism to transnational organized crime, require coordinated, state-driven responses that do not weaken command structures through parallel forces.
The Nigerian leader stressed that peace and security initiatives must be “co-created with African partners and anchored in African-led frameworks,” noting that externally imposed solutions often fail without strong regional ownership and a grounded understanding of local dynamics.
Beyond security, President Tinubu intensified Nigeria’s long-standing bid to secure permanent seats with veto-wielding authority for Africa on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), insisting that a comprehensive reform of the global governance system is overdue.
“It is time for Africa to occupy permanent seats on the UN Security Council, with all attendant privileges, including the veto,” he said. He tasked EU Member States to support Africa’s “long-standing and legitimate call for reform” and the commencement of “genuine text-based negotiations” under the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) framework.
Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening peace and democratic stability, highlighting the success of its integrated security approach. He disclosed that Nigeria’s combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, which include the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin, has yielded significant results.
“As of early 2025, over 120,000 Boko Haram-affiliated individuals, including family members, have surrendered,” he disclosed. He added that the recent Sea-Lift Agreement between the Nigerian Navy and the AU Standby Force (ASF) further enhances Africa’s rapid deployment capabilities for peace operations.
On irregular migration, the President advised that the issue must be addressed by acknowledging its deep economic and demographic drivers, rather than criminalizing mobility. He proposed structured labour pathways, such such as Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps for cooperation within the Global South and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) arrangements, as means for Europe to benefit from Africa’s skilled youth without encouraging irregular migration.
The 7th AU–EU Summit, co-chaired by Angola’s President João Lourenço and the President of the European Council, António Costa, is bringing African and European leaders together to review security cooperation, trade, governance, and migration.
