A number of international officials and experts emphasized the importance of achieving African unity and investing in human capital as a factor that stimulates unity efforts and establishes African self-reliance, against the backdrop of the migration of African youth outside the continent. They highlighted the need to enhance Africa's standing on the international stage. This came during the second day of the sixth edition of the Global Security Forum held in Doha under the theme "Strategic Competition: Complications Arising from Interdependence," attended by senior global security officials from around the world.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, stressed the crucial role of the United Nations in finding a solution to the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the need for greater unity at the global and African levels. He called for a unification of efforts to enhance Africa's position, saying, "There is a need for genuine efforts to unite and speak with one voice to enhance Africa's standing on the international stage."
For his part, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency in Nigeria, highlighted the need for a delicate and necessary balance of security in the world and to maintain the current momentum. He pointed out that both old and new actors, as well as major and medium powers, are gradually playing essential roles in shaping global and regional security issues and situations, exerting their influence and reinforcing their strategic interests worldwide by employing all elements of national power.
In another context, Robert Dussey, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Togo, during a discussion session titled "The Current Map of Geopolitics in Africa," emphasized the importance of African countries participating in internal dialogue to find sustainable solutions. He stated, "The African continent is undergoing change. When discussing geopolitical issues in the world, especially those related to Africa, we must say that we now have new leadership in our continent."
Moreover, Roger Carstens, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, spoke about the hostage situation and the importance of gathering information about them to monitor their conditions continuously, highlighting what the U.S. government has done regarding this issue.
This year's Global Security Forum addresses the topic of strategic competition amid the complexities imposed by interdependence among nations, with participation from several international leaders, security experts, and policymakers to explore the intertwined dynamics of global security and address the multifaceted challenges of a highly interconnected world.
The Global Security Forum will conclude its activities today, Wednesday, with discussions on the third day featuring a speech by Ali Ihsan, Minister of Internal Security and Technology of the Maldives. It will also include dialogues on the geopolitical implications of the war in Gaza, threats to human security in the global south, and the security impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
