Look Inward To End Security Challenges, Group Tells Africa

Security Watch Africa Initiative (SWAI) has called on African leaders to look inward for solutions to address the continent’s security challenges.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 17th edition of SWAI annual conference held in Banjul, the Gambia.

The communique signed by Mr Patrick Agbambu, president/CEO SWAI and Sani Usman, the chief rapporteur, also called for intelligence sharing and synergy amongst sub-regional bodies on the continent, as well as a periodic assembly to assess the African security environment.

The body further called for a unified, enabling legal framework, and a comprehensive, all-encompassing strategy, as well as a strengthened judicial system, to address security challenges across Africa.

It also advocated for regular meetings of the security councils and commissions of sub-regional bodies such as SADC and ECOWAS, among others.

“African countries should collaborate more and look inward for solutions to address African security challenges.

“African leaders should adopt an all-of-society approach, particularly engaging the youths, to address evolving security challenges”.

It averred further that to address maritime security, African Navies should strengthen their collaboration and synergy.

“African countries should come up with integrated, all-encompassing maritime strategies that are in line with continental and regional security architectures”.

The body also urged African countries to strengthen their research and development efforts through training and adequate funding.

“There is a need for the AU to operationalize the collective security mechanism, particularly the African Standby Force, to address insecurity in Africa.

“There is a need to encourage the media to consider national and victim security in their reportage,” he said.