Kenya’s President, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, today delivered a powerful address at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD25), emphasizing the urgent need for a unified, African-led security strategy in the face of emerging global threats. Speaking at the opening session in Nairobi, President Ruto welcomed delegates from across the continent and global partners, marking only the second time in history that the high-level forum is being held on African soil.
“The significance of ACHOD25 being hosted in Africa cannot be overstated,” President Ruto said. “It signals a new era in which Africa asserts its leadership in shaping a security agenda that reflects our realities, aspirations, and potential.”
The President painted a compelling picture of Africa at a critical crossroads. With over 60% of the population under the age of 25, Ruto described the continent as standing “on the cusp of transformation,” with the potential to become the world’s largest workforce by 2050. He also underscored Africa’s strategic assets its vast natural resources, including 65% of the planet’s uncultivated arable land and critical mineral deposits like lithium and cobalt making it essential to global food security and the clean energy transition.
He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and initiatives like the Great Green Wall as signs of a continent investing in long-term sustainability, economic integration, and environmental resilience. He praised increasing efforts to channel resources into education, technology, and renewable energy, describing these as the “building blocks of a new African renaissance.”
However, Ruto did not shy away from the continent’s challenges. He warned of persistent and evolving threats including terrorism, armed insurgency, cybercrime, and climate-induced conflict that continue to undermine development and test national and regional institutions.
“These threats are no longer confined by borders; they are transnational, asymmetrical, and increasingly sophisticated,” he cautioned. “We must reimagine our peace and security architecture to effectively confront them.”
Calling for deeper collaboration among African nations and between the continent and its global allies, President Ruto urged defence leaders to commit to a shared vision that promotes stability, sovereignty, and sustainable growth. He emphasized that Africa’s security must not rely solely on external interventions but instead reflect a collective African responsibility.
The ACHOD25 forum, co-hosted by Kenya and the United States, brings together military chiefs, policymakers, and international partners to strategize on security cooperation, joint military efforts, and long-term peacebuilding frameworks. The presence of high-ranking officials, including the Commander of the U.S. Africa Command and senior American defence officials, highlighted the growing global interest in Africa’s security landscape.
As the continent navigates its path forward, Ruto’s remarks underscored a powerful message: Africa is not just a frontier of global challenges, but a frontier of global solutions ready to lead, ready to innovate, and ready to secure its future on its own terms.
