President Bola Tinubu has firmly opposed the growing use of private military and security contractors across African conflict zones, warning that the trend undermines national sovereignty and complicates counter-terrorism efforts.
Tinubu delivered this position during the first plenary session on “Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism” at the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola. The President was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Addressing African heads of state and EU leaders, Tinubu said peacebuilding must be driven and owned by African governments, not outsourced to private actors with unclear motives.
According to him, “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.”
The President argued that Africa’s complex security challenges—from terrorism to organised transnational crime—require coordinated state-led solutions, not parallel forces that weaken authority and command structures.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s stance aligns with its long-standing policy in regional missions under ECOWAS and the African Union, where state control and cooperation are central.
Tinubu also warned that the weakened spirit of multilateralism around the world has made global security more fragile, stressing that the EU remains one of the few blocs engaging Africa on a continent-to-continent platform grounded in mutual respect.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and democratic governance across Africa, stating the country is “more prepared than ever” to work with the EU to build “a stable, just and prosperous world.”
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