Africa’s Security Challenges Highlighted at Munich Security Conference
At last week’s Munich Security Conference, a global dialogue on security issues, it became increasingly clear that Africa must forge new security partnerships beyond its traditional alliances. The continent’s difficulties in securing a place in discussions dominated by crises in regions like Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific were evident.
Africa’s concerns struggled for attention as the conference largely focused on pressing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, Venezuela’s political turmoil, and disturbances in the Indo-Pacific and Greenland. This lack of focus on African issues has compounded the continent’s challenges, according to Jakkie Cilliers, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and head of its African Futures unit.
“The Munich Security Conference typically emphasizes hard security and military issues primarily due to recent global events,” Cilliers remarked in an interview. “This focus has overshadowed Africa’s pressing issues, leaving little space for meaningful discussion.”
Cilliers, along with ISS Special Projects Head Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, has been advocating for greater attention to Africa’s security landscape. During a side event co-organized by the ISS and the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the discussions turned to Africa’s need to address its own security challenges amidst diminishing global support. Markus Ferber, Chair of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, expressed that given the ongoing civil wars and conflicts across regions like Sudan and the Sahel, Africa must be prioritized in global security dialogues.
Furthermore, the involvement of private military companies, such as Russia’s Wagner Group, is raising alarm. Ferber pointed out that these organizations not only violate human rights but also engage in wide-scale smuggling and disinformation campaigns, increasing instability across Africa. They have even been reportedly recruiting Africans to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine under misleading pretenses.
Maunganidze highlighted that Africa is home to over 50 armed conflicts, accounting for nearly 40% of global conflict incidents, which have caused the displacement of around 45 million people. This unsettling reality raises questions about the continent’s capacity to secure itself without undermining democracy or detracting funds from essential services like education and healthcare.
Cilliers noted a concerning trend: regions in Africa are becoming less stable, now surpassed only by the Middle East in terms of unrest levels. High youth unemployment, together with insufficient governance, contribute to a climate that will likely not see improvement in the next decade.
To address these challenges, Cilliers stressed the need for African states to consolidate authority effectively, asserting that state capability is critical in maintaining security. He emphasized that this does not mean endorsing oppressive governance but rather ensuring a state’s control over its territory and its capacity to manage violence—a challenge many African nations face daily.
Amidst these discussions, the role of the African Union (AU) came under scrutiny. Cilliers pointed out the AU has not been able to adequately support peacekeeping initiatives, mentioning that the newly established AU Peace Fund has raised only $400 million—a figure insufficient even for half a year’s operations of a peacekeeping mission.
Reflecting on South Africa’s recent decision to withdraw its troops from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba expressed regret, stating that such decisions impact long-standing partnerships and regional stability.
Kayikwamba also highlighted the challenges faced by peacekeeping missions, referencing the tragic deaths of peacekeepers at the hands of rebel groups. She called for a reevaluation of multilateral efforts, especially in light of the DRC’s diminished support within the AU compared to the UN Security Council.
Amid these dynamics, China has emerged as a key player in Africa’s security balance. Cilliers stated that China is increasingly filling gaps left by the United States, particularly in military collaboration. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China has recently surpassed Russia as the leading arms supplier to Africa, illustrating a shift in geopolitical alliances. The data showed a notable decline in Russian arms supplies, partially attributed to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Overall, the Munich Security Conference underscored the pressing need for a reimagined approach to Africa’s security. With ongoing conflicts and the specter of diminished international support, the burden of defending its own stability increasingly falls on African nations.
As the global community grapples with its own security dilemmas, Africa’s voice and perspectives must be incorporated into broader discussions to foster collaborative efforts for a more stable future.
— Reported by Nexio News
