By Abdul Mohammed Isa, Abuja
Former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), has issued a compelling call for African land forces to institutionalize military cooperation and seamless communication during peacetime.
The retired General, who also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, delivered this imperative as a principal panelist at the recently concluded Land Forces Commanders Symposium (LFCS) 2025 in Kigali.
The high-level forum, hosted by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) from October 20-22, gathered senior army chiefs, defence officials, and strategic partners under the theme: “Leveraging Land Forces Capabilities for Enhanced Implementation of Peace and Security Strategies.”
In a session focused on “Enhancing Interoperability among Land Forces in Africa and beyond,” Gen. Buratai drew from his extensive field experience to highlight critical gaps hindering joint military effectiveness on the continent.
“We don’t have to wait until operations begin before we start communicating efficiently,” Buratai asserted. “There must be a deliberate effort to create seamless, continent-wide communication frameworks among our armies.”
Citing his command of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin, Buratai pinpointed specific obstacles.
“Incompatibility of communication systems, disparities in training and doctrine, and non-standardized equipment often limit our collective effectiveness,” he stated.
He further underscored these points with lessons from Nigeria’s pivotal role in ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as challenges observed in AU missions in Sudan, where fragmented logistics and differing rules of engagement hampered progress.
“The lesson is clear — interoperability must begin from peacetime,” Buratai stressed. “Once it is tested and institutionalized in peace, it transitions smoothly into operations.”
To address these issues, the former army chief proposed a structured approach towards harmonization, urging the African Union and regional blocs like ECOWAS and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to lead the charge in standardizing training, doctrines, and equipment.
Gen. Buratai’s message resonated with the symposium’s opening remarks by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who challenged African leaders to break down bureaucratic barriers and foster a new culture of professional security collaboration.
The symposium served as a critical platform for developing coordinated frameworks to address Africa’s evolving security landscape, including discussions on drone warfare and bilateral security partnerships.
“This symposium is timely and very necessary,” Buratai concluded. “It challenges us to think strategically and act collectively to enhance peace and stability on our continent.”
The LFCS is a premier annual continental security dialogue that brings together African army chiefs and senior officers to discuss shared security priorities, exchange operational experiences and strengthen defence cooperation.