UNITED Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed has warned that Africa cannot afford to remain passive in the face of rapid technological advancements, stressing that extremist groups are already exploiting these tools to destabilize the continent.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja today, Mohammed urged African leaders to take ownership of the digital space and adopt proactive strategies.
“Africa is at the epicentre of global terrorism. Instead of being harnessed for development, new technologies and improvised devices are being weaponised by insurgent groups to inflict harm,” she said.
“We cannot afford to be bystanders. Africa must take ownership, be proactive, and shape how these tools are used.”
She highlighted the dual nature of technology, noting that while it is being misused to spread hate, manipulate elections, and undermine democratic institutions, it also offers opportunities. Artificial intelligence, for instance, is being deployed in fragile states to identify food insecurity, predict displacement from climate shocks, and detect landmines. “The same tools that can solve problems also pose deep risks,” she cautioned.
Mohammed, a former Nigerian Minister of Environment, further stressed the importance of continental collaboration.
“When we act in isolation, we hand our adversaries their greatest advantage — our division,” she said, pointing to the complexities of coordinating defence across Africa’s 54 diverse nations.
Nonetheless, she commended African defence forces for finding ways to cooperate despite political, historical, and policy differences, describing regional cooperation as “the linchpin of Africa’s security and defence.”