The Head of State’s representative at the just ended African Union, AU Summit among others, said Africa’s path to lasting peace lies in intelligence sharing, reinforced border control and dialogue.
As African leaders converged in Addis Ababa for the 38th African Union, AU, Summit which ran from February 15th to 16th 2025, Cameroon emerged as a vocal advocate for homegrown solutions to the continent’s security crises. Prime Minister Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, speaking on behalf of President Paul Biya, delivered a concise yet potent message—Africa’s path to lasting peace lies in intelligence sharing, reinforced border control, and above all, dialogue.
According to reports, unlike many security discussions that dwell on problems, Cameroon presented a concrete action plan. In his three-minute address to the Assembly, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute underscored the success of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF,in the Lake Chad Basin as a template for regional cooperation. This task force, which unites Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Niger, has significantly weakened Boko Haram’s influence. “Joint action works,” the Prime Minister emphasized, challenging African nations to replicate such collaborative frameworks across conflict zones in the Sahel, Sudan, and eastern DRC. While military interventions remain common across Africa, President Biya’s message was clear: wars are not won through weapons alone.
Dr. Ngute urged leaders to recognize that most victims of these conflicts are women and children, emphasizing that sustainable peace can only be achieved through “meaningful dialogue.” His remarks aligned with discussions held at the AU’s Peace and Security Council meeting on February 14, where several nations echoed the sentiment that military strategies have failed to produce lasting stability.
A push beyond stretching beyond security
Cameroon’s stance extended beyond security. Dr. Ngute reinforced President Biya’s belief that African problems require African solutions not the interventions of foreign powers. By advocating for the swift implementation of resolutions from the AU summit, Cameroon positioned itself as a nation pushing for action rather than rhetoric. At the end of the two-day summit, leaders prepared to sign off on key decisions, but Cameroon’s message lingered: peace is possible when Africa takes control of its own destiny.
