President Bola Tinubu on Monday rejected the growing reliance on private military and security contractors in conflict zones in Africa, warning that their involvement undermines sovereignty and complicates counter-terrorism operations across the continent.
Speaking during the first plenary session on ’Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism’ at the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, Tinubu said peace efforts must be led and owned by African governments rather than outsourced to private actors with opaque mandates.
President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, told heads of state and EU leaders: “We stand resolutely against the use of private military and security companies in African conflicts, as their presence often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty.”
Tinubu argued that Africa’s security challenges, from terrorism to transnational organised crime, require coordinated state-driven responses, not parallel forces that weaken command structures.
He said Nigeria’s position aligns with its long-standing approach to regional peace missions under ECOWAS and the AU.
The Nigerian leader also cautioned that the global shift away from multilateralism has created a more fragile security environment, noting that the EU remains one of the few platforms still engaging Africa on a “continent-to-continent basis, anchored on mutual respect and shared aspirations.”
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening peace and democratic stability across the continent, saying the country is “more prepared than ever” to work with the EU to build “a stable, just and prosperous world.”
Tinubu also intensified Nigeria’s bid to secure permanent seats with veto-wielding authority in the United Nations Security Council for Africa, insisting that a comprehensive reform of the global governance system is long overdue.
He tasked the EU with co-creating peace and security initiatives alongside its African partners, anchored on African-led frameworks, as a pathway to achieving sustainable stability across the continent.
Tinubu disclosed that over 250,000 Boko Haram-affiliated individuals had surrendered in early 2025 following the Nigerian Government’s kinetic and non-kinetic measures.
The President stressed that the challenges of armed conflict, illicit weapons, climate pressures, irregular migration, and political instability across Africa now demand stronger cooperation.
“It is time for Africa to occupy permanent seats on the UN Security Council, with all attendant privileges, including the veto. Genuine text-based negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiations framework must now commence.
“It is our hope that EU Member States will support Africa’s long-standing and legitimate call for reform of the United Nations,” he stated.
He noted that addressing these challenges requires renewed AU–EU focus on preventive diplomacy, inclusive governance, and long-term investment in people and infrastructure.
