AU and UN Urge Proactive Security Strategies in Abuja

At the High-Level African Lessons Learned Forum in Abuja, officials from the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUCTC) and the United Nations called for a shift from reactive military responses to proactive, human-centric prevention strategies in regional security. Dr. Lakhdar Idriss Lallati, representing AU Commissioner Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, noted that the forum builds on the Abuja Declaration of April 2024 and a dialogue in Madrid in May 2026.

He reported over 1,200 terrorist attacks in Africa in the first quarter of the year, resulting in more than 3,800 fatalities. Lallati emphasized the need for trust among institutions to facilitate timely intelligence sharing, as terrorist organizations can cross borders quickly.

He warned that insurgents exploit digital platforms and AI for their operations. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stressed the importance of human rights and accountability in building institutional trust and called for coordinated oversight of technology to prevent extremist recruitment.

She praised Nigeria’s non-kinetic frameworks, such as Operation Safe Corridor, for their focus on rehabilitation and community involvement.