In order to resolve the many security challenges confronting the African continent, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has canvassed strengthening military ties between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the South African National Defence Force. The Defence Chief stated this during an official meeting in Pretoria, South Africa.
In the statement released by the Acting Director at Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Tuesday in Abuja, it was disclosed that Gen. Musa,while on an official visit to the head of the South African National Defence Force, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, echoed Nigeria’s military’s interest in shoring up relationships between both countries.
Musa stated that while the meeting in South Africa has been hailed as a major step towards advancing solutions to the continent’s security problems, cooperation and the strengthening of bilateral relations were also critical in all the immediate and long term.
He stressed that different strategies to solve regional security issues were the main focus of his meeting with his South African counterpart.
Stressing further, he said that the need to foster the sharing of knowledge and creating of closer relations between the two countries were the core topics of the discussion that was had.
Gusau’s statement also revealed that, during the meeting, “the Chief of SANDF highlighted the significance of the meeting between the two largest economies and military powers on the African continent.”
He said: “Present at the meeting were the SANDF Chiefs of Intelligence, Policy and Plans, International Affairs and Joint Operations amongst other departmental chiefs of the SANDF.”
As the many security challenges confronting Africa range from terrorism/extremism, civil conflicts, transnational organized crime, maritime piracy and other forms of political instability, a strong military relationship between Nigeria and South Africa might be helpful in addressing the above issues , the statement added.
