Sierra Leone’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Amara İdara Bangura, is representing the country at the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) Summit 2025, which officially opened on Monday, 25th August 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Center in Abuja.
The three-day summit, hosted by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has brought together military leaders from 35 African countries to strengthen continental military cooperation and develop unified strategies to address the continent’s complex and evolving security challenges.
The key objective of the summit includes facilitating coordinated responses to peace and security threats, encouraging the integration of the private sector in Africa’s defense architecture, establishing a platform for sustainable, home-grown defense solutions and Promoting strategic collaboration among African defense institutions.
The high-level opening session featured participation from government officials, military chiefs, and members of the diplomatic corps—reflecting the summit’s significance in shaping Africa’s collective defense and security agenda.
Lieutenant General Bangura’s participation underscores Sierra Leone’s firm commitment to regional peace and stability, as well as its readiness to contribute to Africa-led solutions to pressing defense challenges. His presence also signals Sierra Leone’s intent to play a proactive role in regional military collaboration and strategic planning.
The summit was formally opened by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria. In his keynote address, Shettima called on African nations to transition from being consumers to producers of military hardware, stressing that investment in indigenous technology is vital for the survival and security of African states.
He pointed to a range of security threats—ranging from insurgency and terrorism to piracy, cybercrime, and organized criminal networks—that require shared intelligence, stronger collaboration, and a new collective defense doctrine to effectively combat.
The Vice President also advocated for private sector involvement in the defense sector and proposed the institutionalization of the African Chiefs of Defence Forum to ensure ongoing dialogue and enhance operational foresight across the continent.
The summit continues through 27th August 2025, with a packed schedule of plenary sessions, bilateral engagements, and strategic briefings aimed at promoting unity, innovation, and resilience in Africa’s defense landscape.
