Why security should be the number one priority in Africa

By Fidel Amakye Owusu

Over the past thirty years, Africa has made remarkable strides in various areas of development and nation-building.

The skylines of capital cities like Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Kigali, and Accra showcase a promising trend towards modernization. While this transformation may be progressing at a slower pace compared to Asia, it is clear that many African nations are actively developing infrastructure that fosters economic growth and improves regional connectivity.

Notable progress includes the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, dams, power transmission lines, irrigation systems, communication networks, railways, ports, and harbors.

However, alongside these achievements, there is an urgent need to address security challenges throughout the continent.

Why is this important?

Understanding that conflict can swiftly reverse years of progress, African leaders must prioritize innovative and comprehensive security strategies. This requires a shift towards human-centered, preventative measures, such as education, micro-credit programs, skills training, and poverty alleviation initiatives.

Images of war-ravaged cities like Aleppo in Syria or Mariupol in Ukraine highlight how quickly conflict can destroy infrastructure built over many years.

Recent conflicts have had significant repercussions: Libya’s war has severely impacted its development, which was previously supported by oil wealth during Gaddafi’s regime. In Ethiopia, civil unrest threatens years of progress, while advancements in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are at risk due to renewed rebellions.

In Mogadishu, the al-Shabaab militant group poses a threat to the city’s fragile infrastructure, and terror groups in the Sahel and Mozambique represent an ongoing danger. Although these groups may not possess heavy weaponry capable of large-scale destruction, their use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) can inflict considerable damage.

As extremist movements encroach upon more developed West African states, the potential consequences for infrastructure become increasingly concerning. Their asymmetric warfare tactics not only harm existing infrastructure but also hinder future development in affected regions.

What can be done in response?

Understanding that conflict can swiftly reverse years of progress, African leaders must prioritize innovative and comprehensive security strategies. This requires a shift towards human-centered, preventative measures, such as education, micro-credit programs, skills training, and poverty alleviation initiatives.

It is essential to recognize that a large-scale external aid program, similar to a “Marshall Plan,” is unlikely to materialize, underscoring the necessity for locally-driven solutions.

Fidel Amakye Owusu is an International Relations and Security Analyst. He is an Associate at the Conflict Research Consortium for Africa and has previously hosted an International Affairs program with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). He is passionate about Diplomacy and realizing Africa’s global potential and how the continent should be viewed as part of the global collective.