Nigeria to hosts Mali, Others for Africa Defence Chiefs’ summit

Burkina, Mali, and the Niger Republic are among 54 African countries that will be hosted in Nigeria for the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit.

The summit, designed to discourage Africa-led solutions to the continent’s security challenges, will be held from August 25 to 27, in Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference, the chairman of the summit planning committee, Air Vice Marshal Precious Amadi, said all the countries invited, including Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, had indicated interest to attend the summit.

He said, “We don’t get involved in political issues, but I can tell you with all confidence that under the International Joint Task Force, Niger Republic is still participating, even though we have a strained political relationship with them.

“So, Mali, Niger Republic, Burkin Faso, Faso, one of the issues with them, militarily, is that threat to one is threat to all.

“So on the military side, we are working together. We have written to them, informing them about the summit, and from the responses we have gotten from most of the countries is that they have indicated their interests to attend in person, not just sending their representative.”