Tinubu rejects use of mercenaries in counter-terrorism efforts

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.

The Nigerian leader acknowledged that the EU has remained one of the AU’s most reliable partners since the creation of the African Peace and Security Architecture in 2002.

He also recalled that Nigeria’s experience has shown that regional instability, if left unchecked, fuels terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and transnational organised crime.

Addressing this, the President stated that his administration had adopted a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin, which, according to him, remains an effective model of African-led cooperative security.

He further noted that a major component of Nigeria’s strategy continues to yield positive security outcomes, adding: “As of early 2025, over 120,000 Boko Haram-affiliated individuals, including family members, have surrendered.”

Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability is further reinforced by the recent Sea-Lift Agreement between the Nigerian Navy and the AU Standby Force, enhancing Africa’s rapid deployment capabilities for peace operations and humanitarian support,” he added.

Furthermore, the President commended the EU’s commitment to restoring peace in the Sahel, while recognising Europe’s understandable concern over irregular migration, much of which originates from ungoverned spaces shaped by insecurity.

On the security situation, the President called for an EU initiative anchored on African-led frameworks and regional ownership to drive positive outcomes.

He said, “However, recent experience has shown that externally driven initiatives, however well-intentioned, cannot succeed at pace without strong regional ownership and a grounded understanding of local dynamics.

“Peace and security initiatives must therefore be co-created with African partners and anchored in African-led frameworks.”

On irregular migration, the President advised that the issue must be addressed in a manner that acknowledges its deep economic and demographic drivers, as criminalising mobility has only compounded insecurity across the continent and beyond.

Instead, he proposed structured labour pathways, such as Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps for cooperation within the Global South and Business Process Outsourcing, where Nigeria’s highly skilled youthful population can contribute to Europe’s labour needs without resorting to irregular migration.

“Seasonal mobility has underpinned West African civilisation for centuries the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement simply acknowledges this reality.

“Our joint task is to convert mobility into safe, orderly, and productive pathways that benefit both continents,” he said.

Similarly, the President frowned on the resurgence of Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, highlighting that it undermines the democratic foundations upon which the African Union was built.

He said these disruptions cannot be separated from exogenous pressures that distort political balances and strain already fragile systems.

Tinubu called on the European Union to work closely with African partners in addressing the structural drivers of these crises.

“To this end, Nigeria and its neighbours have initiated the Regional Partnership for Democracy, an initiative aimed at strengthening constitutional order, countering extremist narratives, combating disinformation, and supporting governance reforms across West Africa.

“It reflects our conviction that security and democratic stability must be pursued simultaneously.

“The conflict in Sudan has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths and displaced over 12 million people,” he stated.

The President welcomed the G7’s call for renewed diplomacy.

However, “external actors fuelling the conflict must be held accountable,” he stated.

“Similarly, rising tensions in South Sudan require continued engagement to ensure the full implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement ahead of the 2026 elections,” he added.

He also expressed appreciation to the government and people of Angola for hosting the summit and thanked the EU for its sustained support to the African Union, particularly in peace-support operations and conflict-prevention programmes.

The 7th AU–EU Summit, co-chaired by Angola’s President João Lourenço and the President of the European Council, António Costa, brings African and European leaders together to review security cooperation, trade, governance and migration.

Akinyemi calls for emergency

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has called on President Tinubu to declare a nationwide state of emergency on security, backed by a raft of extraordinary measures.

Security fears have spiked in the past two weeks following incidents, including the killing of an Army Brigadier General, Musa Uba, and the abduction of  over 300 pupils in Niger and Kebbi states and the abduction of 38 worshippers of the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, who have now been released.

In a statement on Monday, Akinyemi called for “decisive, coordinated and courageous” steps, including suspending the military retirement laws mandating exit after 35 years of service or upon attaining the age of 60, and recalling recently retired officers.

The former Minister of External Affairs argued that bringing back experienced officers should form part of a broader strategy to strengthen military presence across the country in response to rising insecurity.

 He added that the recall should be followed by a nationwide, large-scale recruitment drive into the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He said, “I respectfully call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to suspend the enforcement of the Armed Forces Act 2004 provision—an inherited British-era policy—that mandates the retirement of military personnel after 35 years of service or upon attaining 60 years of age.

“History provides clear precedents for such a step. During the Second World War, when the British required additional boots on the ground, the same law was temporarily set aside. Similarly, during Nigeria’s Civil War, these retirement provisions were relaxed to meet urgent national security needs. Today, our nation again finds itself in a situation that requires exceptional measures. Nigeria urgently needs a strengthened military presence to confront escalating insecurity and safeguard our sovereignty.

“In addition, I call on the President to authorise a nationwide, large-scale recruitment drive into the Nigerian Armed Forces, ensuring that every state and region is properly garrisoned and adequately secured. This is essential to restoring confidence, stability, and territorial control across the federation. I further recommend that the President declare a nationwide state of emergency.”

As part of the proposed state of emergency, Akinyemi argued that constitutional immunity for governors should be suspended so they can be held accountable if terrorist groups continue to operate freely in their domains.

He added that states where terrorism persists may, if necessary, be placed under temporary military administration.

Akinyemi said, “During this period, constitutional immunity for governors should be suspended so that any governor under whose jurisdiction terrorist groups operate freely and with impunity can be held accountable. “Where necessary, such a state may be temporarily placed under military administration to restore order and protect citizens.”

The former NIIA Director-General also urged Tinubu to establish a military tribunal to prosecute terrorists and their collaborators.

“Finally, I call on President Tinubu to establish a military tribunal to try terrorists and their confirmed collaborators. Where guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt, the tribunal should be empowered to impose the maximum penalty under the law: the death penalty.

“Nigeria must not tolerate a situation in which members of terrorist organisations freely appear at social gatherings armed and unchallenged. Our nation’s security demands decisive, coordinated and courageous action,” Akinyemi said.