Addis Ababa: President Bola Tinubu has called on the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a combined maritime task force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea. Tinubu made this appeal during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the President expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the task force’s headquarters in Lagos. Tinubu conveyed Nigeria’s position as the AU considered the report on the AUPSC, focusing on peace and security in Africa, and the biennial report on the implementation of the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023-2024). The President’s statement was delivered at the meeting on his behalf by Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Nigeria has also signed an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster support, humanitarian actions, and personnel movement. Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, Nigeria’s defense minister, signed the agreement, under which the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis. The signing was witnessed by Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Tuggar, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Naval Chief, and Amb. Muhammed Muhammed, the Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency. Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed on behalf of the AU.
President Tinubu expressed satisfaction that the AUPSC had adopted outcomes of a high-level meeting, including upgrading the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre. He also appreciated the renewal of the Multinational Joint Taskforce’s mandate to tackle terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Region.
The Nigerian leader raised concerns about Libya’s instability exacerbating security challenges in the Sahel and urged the Assembly to support initiatives restoring law and order. Tinubu emphasized that peace in the Sahel is contingent on stability in Libya.
President Tinubu highlighted the insecurity affecting countries in democratic transition, such as Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Gabon. He suggested exploring the benefits of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to support AU Peace Support Operations and cautioned against the encroachment of extra-continental forces into African security issues.
Welcoming progress in operationalizing the African Standby Force, President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s support and appealed for flexibility among AU member countries to adopt the draft MoU on the force’s operationalization.