Military chiefs from Africa on Wednesday rallied behind the call for solidarity to improve the response to new forms of security threats, including violent extremism, human trafficking, piracy, and disinformation campaigns. Speaking at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the continent's heads of armed forces emphasized that unity, enhanced coordination, and the sharing of intelligence and expertise will be crucial to neutralizing emerging threats to peace, stability, and cohesion. Kenyan President William Ruto opened the one-day meeting, noting that insecurity, political strife, and the climate crisis present existential threats to peace and long-term development. Across the continent, we face increasingly asymmetrical and transnational threats, from terrorism and armed conflict to cyberattacks and environmental degradation, Ruto said. These challenges test the resilience of our institutions and demand that we reimagine our peace and security architecture. Kenya is the second African country after Botswana to host the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, which brought together senior policymakers, military leaders, security experts, and bilateral partners to discuss contemporary security challenges and explore lasting solutions. This year's conference, held under the theme Strengthening African Security: Sustaining Unity of Effort, highlighted the need for cooperation and partnerships to eradicate transnational security threats. Ruto said Africa's ability to accelerate development, eliminate poverty, and transform livelihoods largely depends on sustained investments in security and political inclusivity. We envision a future in which African states stand together in mutual defense of our sovereignty and values, where our military cooperation is not reactive but proactive and strategic, he said. The conference is taking place against a backdrop of profound shifts in the global security architecture, underlined by strategic competition, evolving technologies, and climate-induced fragility, said Soipan Tuya, Kenya's cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Defense. According to Tuya, these shifts necessitate the continent to recalibrate its defense apparatus to focus on foresight, resilience, and constructive engagement among disciplined forces. Charles Muriu Kahariri, chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, said the gathering of African military leaders provides them with a platform to align their strategic objectives and a collective approach to tackling shared threats. Kahariri also called on African countries to address the underlying political, economic, and social drivers of insecurity on the continent, using military force as a last resort.
