IN Livingstone, Zambia’s picturesque tourist hub, the 2024 African Land Forces Summit launched on Monday with a robust gathering of more than 500 delegates from 40 African nations, Europe, and the Americas. Set against the backdrop of the theme Regional Solutions to Transnational Problems, the summit convened to address the multifaceted security dilemmas confronting the African continent.
During the inaugural session, Zambian Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma underscored the pivotal role of defence forces in ensuring peace across Africa, emphasising its indispensable connection to fostering sustainable development. Minister Lufuma remarked, ‘For any economic development to take place, a safe and secure environment is important, something that is not always the case, as there are a number of conflicts in Africa.’
Echoing similar sentiments, Zambia Army Commander Sitali Dennis Alibuzwi highlighted the array of challenges currently confronting the continent, ranging from terrorism and human trafficking to migration and climate change-induced instabilities. Alibuzwi emphasized the imperative for uniformed personnel to convene and exchange insights, stating, ‘It is therefore important for uniformed personnel to gather and share experiences to find solutions to challenges of a transnational nature because wars have adverse effects on development.’
Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, commanding general of the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), expressed admiration for Zambia’s contributions to regional peace and security. Maj. Gen. Wasmund affirmed the commitment of the US army to collaborate with African partners in enhancing their capacity to counter threats posed by transnational criminal organizations and extremist groups. He said, ‘The US army is proud to work alongside its partners throughout Africa to boost its partners’ ability to respond to threats posed by transnational criminal organisations and extremist organisations.’
The summit, spanning multiple days, is poised to delve deeper into strategies for fostering regional cooperation and forging effective responses to the evolving security landscape across Africa.