Africa is not an empty chessboard for foreign powers – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama cautioned during the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa that foreign powers are seeking to exert influence over Africa's natural resources, potentially undermining the continent's control over its political and security destiny. Speaking at the forum in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia on October 24, Mahama linked conflicts across the continent to competition over resources, governance weaknesses and foreign interference.

He cited the ongoing fighting in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where battles are fueled by the quest for 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," Mahama warned. He stressed that Africa cannot be a passive pawn in foreign games, urging leaders to actively shape their own narrative.

Mahama highlighted ongoing governance issues in Somalia, the marginalization of youth in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region, and tensions between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States as risks to regional stability. He also raised alarm about the proliferation of drones amongst armed groups, noting that these low-cost aerial weapons have contributed significantly to civilian casualties in recent months in Sudan.

"Armed groups have mastered the commercial drone - cheap, accessible, and deadly. In Sudan alone, these inexpensive flying weapons were responsible for the vast majority of civilian casualties this year," Mahama stated. He urged African leaders to strengthen cooperation and take more responsibility for managing resources and defining security priorities, warning that without concerted action, Africa would remain susceptible to external forces dictating its political and security future.