Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a far-reaching overhaul of Africa’s security framework, warning that the continent risks deeper instability and renewed external domination if urgent reforms are not undertaken.
Speaking at the third Mashariki Cooperation Conference III, Obasanjo urged intelligence chiefs and security leaders to abandon outdated systems and adopt a more people-centred, technologically driven and accountable approach to security.
Delivering a keynote address on emerging geopolitical dynamics, the former leader argued that Africa’s recurring conflicts are rooted in identifiable leadership failures, compounded by increasing external interference in the continent’s affairs.
He noted that the global order established after the World War II is showing signs of fragmentation, citing the international fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and contrasting responses to crises in regions such as Gaza and the Sahel. According to him, these inconsistencies reflect a global system that applies its rules selectively, often to Africa’s disadvantage.
Obasanjo warned that Africa is increasingly becoming the focus of a renewed geopolitical contest, describing the situation as a “new scramble for Africa.” He pointed to expanding foreign influence through initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the growing presence of Russian-linked security actors in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, and the vacuum created by the withdrawal of Western forces from key conflict zones.
These developments, he said, have coincided with rising terrorism, violent extremism and a surge in military takeovers across the continent since 2020, which he described as a “coup epidemic.”
To address these challenges, Obasanjo outlined a five-point framework for reform. He advocated a human-centred security model prioritising citizen welfare, stronger continental collaboration through mechanisms such as the African Standby Force, and intensified efforts to disrupt illicit financial networks that sustain insecurity. He also emphasised the need for technological sovereignty, including investment in artificial intelligence, cyber defence and drone capabilities, alongside transparent and accountable governance.
He stressed that effective leadership remains central to any sustainable security strategy, noting that without credible governance, military and intelligence efforts would yield limited results.
A significant portion of his address focused on the role of intelligence, which he described as critical but underutilised in preventing conflicts. He cited missed warning signals in past crises across Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, calling for the development of an integrated continental intelligence network anchored on professionalism and civilian oversight.
Reflecting on his own experience, Obasanjo referenced Nigeria-led peacekeeping efforts under ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as mediation roles in Burundi and Zimbabwe, stating that successful interventions have consistently relied on accurate intelligence, honest leadership and strategic coordination.
He also introduced his “Obasanjo 55+20 Leadership Framework,” a model outlining key leadership attributes and values, with “courageous honesty” as its central principle.
Addressing an audience that included Noordin Mohamed Haji and other intelligence leaders, Obasanjo concluded with a warning that Africa’s future depends on decisive leadership choices.
“Africa’s conflicts are not inevitable,” he said. “They are the product of leadership decisions. What is required now is the will and the courage to choose differently.”
He maintained that without urgent reforms, the continent risks remaining vulnerable to external influence, but with the right approach, it can secure lasting stability on its own terms.
