Addis hosts 19th Ordinary Session of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff, Heads of Safety & Security Services

Addis Ababa, June 5, 2024 (FBC) – The 19th Ordinary Session of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Safety and Security Services held in Addis Ababa yesterday.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, Director for Conflict Management Directorate, Political Affairs Peace and Security Department, stated that despite increased national and international measures to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes regions, and Mozambique, among other places, challenges persist.

“Our responses must adapt to these evolving threats and tactics by the insurgent groups. We must also learn from our experiences to shape security frameworks and enhance conflict anticipation capabilities.”

The AU will continue to enhance its response mechanisms and tools to this end, he said.

The meeting discusses the detailed report that experts have studied and approved after intensive deliberations to be submitted to the Chiefs of Defence Staff, as the report constitutes a roadmap that anticipates solutions to the complex crises that are sweeping many regions of the African continent and confronting unconstitutional changes, terrorism, foreign interventions, disasters and other issues that require the leaders of the continent’s armies to develop visions that would strengthen African security and political institutions and contribute to strengthening them.

The 19th Ordinary Session of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Safety and Security Services unanimously approved the detailed report submitted by the experts, after an in-depth discussion, much of which focused on how to strengthen the African ready forces and continue to enhance their capabilities at the political, material and legal levels, prevent foreign interference in problems between countries, and the need to strengthen the position of the institutions of the African Commission through effective anticipation of all security and political crises through early warning and issuing periodic reports to study centers that identify problems and issue solutions for them.