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'The peace we seek must be homegrown' - African leaders urge stronger continent-wide security cooperation at Lome forum

'The peace we seek must be homegrown' - African leaders urge stronger continent-wide security cooperation at Lome forum

"Officials and heads of African states convened in Lome for the 2nd edition of the Lome Peace and Security Forum (LPSF) on Saturday, where they advocated for tighter cooperation in this critical sphere. Footage shows participants gathering in the conference hall, listening to speeches by the politicians. During the event, heads of state called for the creation of a multilateral security mechanism across Africa to address the continent's emerging security threats effectively. "We face shifting threats: terrorism, transnational crime, disinformation, cyberattacks, and climate insecurity. No army, no border, no state can face them alone. We must move from reaction to prevention," emphasised Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe. "The peace we seek must be homegrown, created by Africans, borne by Africans, and sustained by Africans," added Joseph Boakai, Liberian President. Other speakers also echoed the sentiments, further underlining the opportunities laid among challenges. "Regional cooperation, rich in natural and human resources, remains crucial for the continent's stability," remarked Angolan Minister of External Relations, Tete Antonio. "We have to take responsibility for our destiny into our own hands. We cannot continue to outsource our life and livelihood, our development, including our food, our protection, our prosperity," pointed out Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President. The 2nd edition of the LPSF, dubbed 'Africa facing complex security challenges: how to build and consolidate peace and stability in a changing world?', is held in Togo's capital from October 11-12."