Tinubu rejects foreign mercenaries in Nigeria’s anti-terrorism operations

President Bola Tinubu has ruled out the use of foreign mercenaries in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, insisting that the country will not outsource its core security responsibilities.

Tinubu’s position was delivered on Monday in Luanda, Angola, by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the first plenary session of the 7th African Union–European Union Summit.

Addressing African leaders and EU officials, the President expressed concern over the growing presence of private military firms across the continent, warning that they undermine state authority and complicate peace efforts.

“We stand resolutely against the use of private military and security companies in African conflicts, as their presence often complicates resolution efforts and undermines state sovereignty,” Shettima said on behalf of the President.

Tinubu maintained that only coordinated, state-led strategies can effectively counter terrorism, organised crime and violent extremism.

He cited Nigeria’s longstanding involvement in ECOWAS and AU peace missions as evidence of its commitment to structured, government-driven security responses.

The President also raised alarm over declining global multilateral cooperation, noting that the AU–EU partnership remains one of the few platforms where Africa engages collectively with international partners.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for global security reforms and renewed the call for Africa to gain permanent seats on the UN Security Council with full privileges, including veto power.

Tinubu highlighted steps taken by his administration, including combining kinetic and non-kinetic approaches against extremist groups.

He noted that thousands of Boko Haram-linked fighters have surrendered due to sustained military pressure and rehabilitation programmes.

He described the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin as proof that African-led cooperation delivers tangible results, stressing that regional alliances — not external contractors — are key to the continent’s future security architecture.

He also referenced Nigeria’s Sea-Lift Agreement with the AU Standby Force as a significant boost to Africa’s rapid deployment capability for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

Tinubu commended the EU for supporting security efforts in the Sahel but cautioned that solutions imposed from outside rarely succeed without strong African leadership.

He urged that peace and security initiatives must be co-created with African partners and rooted in African-led frameworks.

On migration, Tinubu argued that criminalising movement has worsened insecurity.

He advocated for regulated labour mobility schemes that would allow African youths to contribute productively to Europe through formal pathways.

The President thanked Angola for hosting the summit, which is focused on security, migration, trade and governance, and acknowledged the EU’s longstanding support for AU peace and security programmes.