Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (retd.), has called on African countries to invest heavily in indigenous defence technology and reduce their reliance on imported military systems.
Buratai made the call at the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali, Rwanda, where he warned that advances in artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems and modern military technology are rapidly changing warfare.
He said African countries could no longer afford to remain dependent on technologies designed for completely different operational environments.
Africa must build its own defence capacity
According to Buratai, foreign military technologies may not always address Africa’s unique security challenges unless they are properly adapted and supported by local expertise.
He therefore urged governments, defence institutions, universities and technology companies to work together to develop homegrown solutions and strengthen the continent’s strategic capabilities.
The former Army Chief also highlighted the growing use of autonomous military systems, ranging from remotely operated platforms to machines capable of making decisions with limited human intervention.
He warned that the development of such technologies raises serious questions about human control, accountability and the ethical use of autonomous weapons.
Buratai draws lessons from modern conflicts
Speaking on lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, Buratai called for African defence institutions to become more flexible and better prepared for emerging threats.
He urged governments to increase investment in research, technical education and military innovation, stressing that simply purchasing advanced weapons would not give Africa genuine strategic independence.
According to him, sustainable defence capacity must be built around skilled personnel, strong research institutions and technology ecosystems capable of developing and maintaining local solutions.
“Africa cannot afford to wait until autonomous warfare becomes the dominant reality before preparing for it.”
Buratai encouraged African policymakers to act now by creating the institutional and technological foundations needed to determine the continent’s own defence priorities.
He said developing indigenous capabilities would not only improve Africa’s preparedness for future conflicts but also help the continent respond more effectively to its evolving security challenges.
Source: Statements by Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai at the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA).
