Nigeria Urges African Union to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Funding for Security

Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to strengthen its financial independence and reduce reliance on foreign aid for peace and security operations across the continent.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the appeal during the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council held in Luanda, Angola, over the weekend.

She urged AU member states to accelerate efforts to build the bloc’s Peace Fund towards its $1 billion target, saying predictable and sustainable financing was essential for African countries to take greater responsibility for preventing and resolving conflicts.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that AU member states had collectively contributed about $350.2 million, representing 87.5 per cent of the original $400 million capitalisation target. She added that the Fund’s balance had risen above $405 million.

According to her, about $39 million had already been disbursed for mediation, preventive diplomacy, peace support operations and other interventions, demonstrating the growing importance of the Fund in addressing security challenges.

The minister called on member states to fulfil their assessed financial contributions and make additional voluntary donations where possible. She described such contributions as investments in Africa’s collective security and sovereignty.

She warned that inadequate and unpredictable funding could weaken African-led peace operations by affecting the availability of personnel, logistics, equipment and other operational resources.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that Africa should gradually move away from dependence on external assistance while continuing to recognise the role of international partners.

“External assistance should complement African ownership; it should not substitute for it,” she said, emphasising that African resources should remain the foundation of the continent’s peace and security financing.

She also called for increased mobilisation of resources from African financial institutions, the private sector and strategic partners, alongside progressive capitalisation of the AU Peace Fund towards the $1 billion goal.

The minister further urged the AU Commission to fully implement the 0.2 per cent levy under the Kigali Financing Decision and explore additional innovative financing mechanisms capable of providing sustainable, long-term revenue for peace and security operations.

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