Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Africa is at a critical turning point and must urgently reform its failing security systems to prevent deeper instability and foreign interference.

Speaking at the third Mashariki Cooperation Conference, Obasanjo said Africa’s current security framework is no longer adequate for today’s rapidly changing geopolitical realities. Drawing on decades of military, political, and mediation experience, he argued that the continent’s recurring conflicts are not unavoidable, but are largely the result of weak leadership and fragile institutions.

He linked Africa’s growing insecurity to the collapse of the post-World War II global order, citing uneven international responses to crises in places such as Gaza, the Sahel, and Ukraine as evidence of selective global standards that leave Africa exposed.

Obasanjo also warned of a renewed global struggle for influence on the continent, pointing to China’s Belt and Road expansion and the rising presence of Russian-linked security actors in unstable regions. He noted that the withdrawal of Western troops from parts of the Sahel has created dangerous power vacuums now being exploited by new players.

To address these threats, he proposed a new African security model centered on protecting citizens rather than governments, and urged stronger continental cooperation through better funding and activation of joint mechanisms like the African Standby Force and early warning systems.

According to Obasanjo, only a united and people-focused security approach can shield Africa from escalating terrorism, coups, and external manipulation.