Africa must take control of its resources and security future – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has warned that foreign powers are seeking strategic influence and access to Africa’s natural resources, urging African leaders to unite to protect the continent’s sovereignty and security.

He cautioned that without a coordinated response, Africa risks surrendering control of its political and security future to external interests.

Speaking at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, on Saturday, October 24, Mr Mahama said competition over natural resources, weak governance and foreign interference were contributing to conflicts across the continent.

He cited conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fighting is linked to competition over valuable resources, including gold, coltan and cobalt.

“External powers, from the East, the West, and the Gulf, are actively seeking leverage, access, and client states on our soil,” he said.

“Let me be clear: Africa is not an empty chessboard for foreign powers to play their games. We are not spectators. But unless we consciously decide to take up the pen and write our own script, someone else will write it for us, and we will not like how the story ends.”

Mr Mahama said the continent’s security challenges were also being worsened by governance failures in Somalia, the marginalisation of young people in Mozambique’s gas-rich Cabo Delgado region, and divisions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States.

He warned that such divisions weakened regional cooperation and undermined collective efforts to address threats to peace and stability.

The President also drew attention to the growing use of commercial drones by armed groups, warning that the relatively cheap and accessible technology was making conflicts increasingly deadly.

“Armed groups and non-state actors have mastered the commercial drone—cheap, accessible, and deadly. In Sudan alone, these low-cost flying weapons accounted for the vast majority of civilian casualties early this year,” he added.

Mr Mahama called on African leaders to strengthen cooperation, improve governance and take greater control of the continent’s natural resources and security priorities.

He warned that failure to pursue a united approach would leave African countries increasingly vulnerable to external influence and prevent them from determining their own future.