The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has called for stronger collaboration among African countries to tackle the continent's growing security challenges, stressing that lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through sustained partnerships and collective action.

He said although dialogue remained important, the true success of the 13th Africa Security Symposium (ASEC 2026) would be measured by the actions taken after the conference and the partnerships built to address common security threats.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the symposium in Accra last Thursday, the minister said security had become increasingly interconnected, making cooperation among governments, security institutions and development partners indispensable.

"The true measure of ASEC 2026 will not be the quality of the discussions alone, but the actions that follow. It will be reflected in the partnerships we sustain, the capabilities we strengthen and the tangible progress we make towards a safer and more resilient Africa," he said.

The symposium was co-organised by the African Union Commission's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) and brought together senior government officials, security practitioners, policymakers, researchers, development partners and industry experts from across Africa and beyond.

Deliberations focused on national security priorities, border governance, counter-terrorism, peace operations, cyber resilience, climate-driven insecurity and humanitarian coordination

Cooperation essential

Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak said the discussions over the past few days had reaffirmed that no country could confront emerging security threats in isolation.

"Through open dialogue, the exchange of experiences and the sharing of practical solutions, we have demonstrated that the challenges facing our continent can only be addressed through cooperation, partnership and collective commitment," he stated.

He said the participation of delegates from across Africa and the international community underscored the need for coordinated responses to terrorism, border insecurity, cyber threats, climate-related risks and other transnational challenges.

"Security today is interconnected and no one can do it alone," the minister stressed.

The interior minister urged participants to maintain the momentum generated during the symposium by promoting African-led initiatives and embrace innovation to strengthen peace and security institutions across the continent.

Let us continue to champion African-led solutions, embrace innovation responsibly and work together to build institutions and partnerships that promote peace, stability and human security across our continent," he said.

 Partnerships

A former Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General Emmanuel Wekem Kotia(retd}, who chaired the event said the symposium had translated its theme, Strengthening African Security Through Innovation and Inclusion, into meaningful dialogue, practical partnerships and actionable commitments.

He said the event had strengthened cooperation among governments, defence and security institutions, regional organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector, while advancing public-private partnerships in areas such as intelligence, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.

Major General Kotia urged delegates to implement the ideas and commitments made during the symposium, stressing that its success would ultimately be measured by the actions taken to build a safer, more resilient and prosperous Africa.

The Director of Government Relations at the UK-based NICS Ltd, Mohammed Ahmed, for his part underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships between governments, the private sector and international organisations to address Africa's evolving security challenges.

He said the gathering provided a platform for African countries to exchange ideas on border security, terrorism and emerging technologies that could help keep citizens safe. 

He noted that the event enabled participating countries to stay informed about the latest security innovations and explore ways to implement them in tackling regional threats.

He stressed the need for greater inclusion of women in the security sector, describing it as one of the conference's key discussion points this year.

He said women had been underrepresented in security decision-making despite making up half of Africa's population, and therefore called for their increased participation.