Over the course of two days, APSACO 2025 brought together experts, policymakers, and researchers to engage in in-depth discussions on Africa’s evolving security landscape. From regional integration and counterterrorism to the continent’s strategic positioning in a multipolar world, the conference offered thoughtful analysis and forward-looking perspectives. Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose, grounded in collaboration, African agency, and the need for long-term, pragmatic solutions.
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APSACO AS AFRICA’S SECURITY AND PEACE ANCHOR
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The opening session called for the institutionalization of APSACO as a central platform for African peace and security dialogue. As global power dynamics shift and development assistance declines, participants stressed the need for a united African voice capable of shaping international governance. They called for long-term strategic planning, intergenerational responsibility, and collective investment in strengthening domestic capacities by developing African institutions and security forces through collaborative funding and shared expertise.
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AFRICA’S SUB-REGIONAL LANDSCAPE IN 2024
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This session examined the credibility of Africa’s regional blocs and the rise of new geopolitical configurations. West Africa’s integration body was critiqued for losing public trust due to inconsistent responses to political crises. Speakers argued that true regional integration requires action at the national level, ethical leadership, and enforceable frameworks. The emergence of new alliances in the Sahel was described as a response to global disengagement, anchored in industrial development and endogenous governance.
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CONFLICT DYNAMICS IN THE SAHEL, LIBYA, AND GREAT LAKES
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A review of Africa’s conflict zones revealed a web of interconnected challenges, ranging from terrorism and organized crime to institutional fragmentation and competing sovereignties. The limitations of international peacekeeping were laid bare, with emphasis placed on the need for local ownership, adaptive governance models, and more coherent regional peace frameworks. The growing relevance of alternative security coalitions was also discussed in light of weakened multilateralism.
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COUNTERTERRORISM AND DEFENCE POLICIES IN AFRICA
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This panel addressed the persistent gap between strategic ambition and operational capability in African counterterrorism efforts. While vision and frameworks are in place, inadequate implementation continues to undermine results. Key concerns included the rise of hybrid warfare, maritime vulnerabilities, and the fusion of criminal and terrorist networks. Recommendations focused on defence financing, regional cooperation, private-sector partnerships, and investment in technology and human capital.
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OWNING THE NARRATIVE: AFRICA’S STRATEGIC VOICE IN GLOBAL DISCOURSE
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Narrative sovereignty emerged as a critical frontier in Africa’s geopolitical positioning. Participants highlighted the need for Africa to shift from passive recipient to active producer of ideas. The debate also tackled language politics, arguing that agency lies in ownership rather than rejection of inherited tools. Investing in local expertise and strengthening regional integration were presented as prerequisites for projecting a coherent and powerful African voice on the world stage.
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COMPETING INFLUENCES IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD
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Amid intensifying global rivalries, this session explored how African countries are navigating diplomatic alignment. A model of “active non-alignment” was presented as a pragmatic way to engage without bloc dependence. Discussions addressed the growing influence of Gulf countries and China, especially in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, and stressed the importance of strategic autonomy and intra-continental unity to avoid fragmentation.
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SOUTHERN AFRICA IN FOCUS: DIPLOMACY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
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This segment spotlighted the climate-security nexus in Southern Africa, identifying environmental shocks as a top national threat. Proposals focused on proactive policy planning, youth inclusion in diplomacy, and enhanced regional solidarity to manage transnational climate risks. The importance of replicable youth empowerment strategies across the continent was also emphasized.
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REFORMING THE AFRICAN PEACE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
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The concluding panel assessed the performance and adaptability of Africa’s continental peace architecture. Funding shortfalls, political interference, and overlapping mandates were cited as major constraints. Calls were made for clearer coordination between the African Union and regional bodies, better early-warning mechanisms, and the integration of governance frameworks into security responses. The use of emerging technologies by non-state actors was flagged as a growing threat requiring faster, smarter institutional adaptation.
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WATCH APSACO 2025 SESSIONS NOW!
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Relive the key moments from Rabat as experts and policymakers unpack Africa’s security landscape, regional integration efforts, and the continent’s strategic positioning in a changing world. Whether you're interested in counterterrorism, peacebuilding, or narrative sovereignty, every panel is available to watch at your convenience.
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Policy Center for the New South
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