The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has openly criticized the United States’ planned airstrikes targeting terrorist groups across Africa, emphasizing that foreign military actions have historically fueled conflicts rather than resolved them.
This stance was in response to an announcement by Gen. James Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa, during the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Lusaka, Zambia. Gen. Hecker stressed that continued U.S. airstrikes are essential to neutralize high-profile terrorist threats jeopardizing both African nations and U.S. interests.
However, PeacePro counters that Africa’s security issues should be tackled by African-led initiatives rather than external military force. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, PeacePro’s Executive Director, in a statement issued in Ilorin, condemned foreign military involvement, pointing out its repeated history of worsening regional instability.
“Africa doesn’t need more foreign bombs; it needs sustainable, locally-driven solutions,” Hamzat asserted.
The Dangerous Legacy of Foreign Interventions
PeacePro argues that past foreign military interventions, particularly those led by Western powers, have often resulted in unintended consequences, including civilian casualties, political instability, and a rise in extremist recruitment.
- Libya’s Collapse: The NATO-led intervention in Libya, backed by the U.S., toppled Muammar Gaddafi but left the country in chaos, enabling terrorist groups like ISIS to thrive.
- Somalia’s Ongoing Struggles: Despite years of U.S. drone strikes, Al-Shabaab remains a major threat in Somalia and neighboring Kenya.
- Sahel Instability: U.S. and French military efforts in the Sahel failed to curb terrorist growth, fueling anti-Western sentiments that contributed to coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Hamzat stressed that “external forces often leave behind power vacuums that worsen security issues rather than solve them.”
A Call for African-Led Security Solutions
Instead of foreign airstrikes, PeacePro advocates for a holistic, African-centered approach to tackling terrorism. The organization urges regional institutions like the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS to take the lead in shaping robust security frameworks.
PeacePro’s recommended strategies include:
- Strengthening Local Intelligence Networks to effectively detect and counter threats.
- Enhancing Regional Cooperation among African nations for unified counterterrorism efforts.
- Addressing Root Causes of Terrorism such as poverty, corruption, and radicalization.
- Investing in Regional Security Forces like the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), credited for weakening Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region.
Hamzat also warned African governments against hosting foreign military bases under the guise of counterterrorism efforts, stating, “Allowing foreign powers to dictate our security policies risks turning Africa into a battlefield for global rivalries.”
Redefining U.S.-Africa Relations
PeacePro calls on the U.S. to reconsider its approach to African security by shifting focus from military interventions to fostering economic partnerships, promoting conflict prevention, and supporting intelligence-sharing initiatives.
“Africa needs allies in development, not war,” Hamzat emphasized.
Through its Africa Demilitarization Campaign, PeacePro urges the AU, ECOWAS, and African governments to reject foreign military interventions and invest in indigenous, long-term peacebuilding strategies.
Read more about Africa’s push for self-reliant security strategies on United Nations Africa
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