NISS chief appeals for formulation, implementation of Pan-African defense force strategy

Addis Ababa, October 17, 2024 (FBC) – The Director General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Ambassador Redwan Hussien stated that the current global context calls for the formulation and implementation of a strategy that will make pan-African defense forces a reality.

The first African Defense Ministers Conference is underway in Addis Ababa beginning from October 15, 2024.

At the conference, the Director General of NISS presented a discussion paper on African Defense Forces Cooperation. The Director General stated in his presentation that the world is currently in a context of pray and predator.

In this global context, if Africa does not strengthen itself, it will face the fate of being a playing field for others as before, he stated.

Ambassador Redwan recalled that our forefathers had earlier noted the need for an independent and coherent defense force capable of countering security threats in all aspects.

Decades later, Africa needs an answer to the question of whether it has achieved the vision set by our forefathers, he underscored.

Redwan said that Africa is currently facing many socio-political and economic problems, noting that terrorists, extremist groups, pirates and border conflicts are troubling the continent.

He pointed out that foreign forces have directly or indirectly created a continental security threat.

Therefore, we should not rely on foreign powers to address the challenges that Africa is facing, he said, adding that if there is a solution from outside, it will cause us to clash with each other by expanding our differences.

The key to solving the problem is in our hands, the Director General underscored, highlighting the need to stand on our own and help each other to reach a better continental goal.

Ambasador Redwan also noted that the relationship between countries based on trust, the culture of tackling problems through peaceful negotiations, the fair use of natural resources will avoid conflicts and achieve the common vision of prosperity and peace in Africa.

No one can alone address the regional and external security problems that occur in Africa; he said, stressing that a strong pan-African military and security cooperation is crucial.

Ambassador Redwan emphasized the need for a pan-African technology and military equipment production, military training capacity building, peacekeeping missions, timely security information exchange and naval cooperation.

In this regard, he mentioned that Ethiopia is actively working to develop African military cooperation citing the country’s support being provided to African countries in various military fields including training programs.

He urged African nations to end their dependence on imported military equipment by building their own continental capacity.

In this regard, he citied Ethiopia’s symbolic moves being carried out in Gafat and Homicho defense industries as experience. He also stressed the need to have regional cooperation in military technology research and development.

The Pan-African Defense Forces Strategy will serve as a unified roadmap to guide the continent’s security operations, and requested countries to have a policy based on continental goals, he said.

According to a report by local news agency ENA, Ambassador Redwan pointed out that the formulation of a pan-African defense force strategy is critical.

There is a need to create an institutional framework, strengthen pan-African socio-political relations and continental bilateral and multi-sectoral military relations, he underscored.