Group opposes U.S. military airstrikes in Africa, calls for African-led security solutions

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has expressed strong opposition to the United States’ plan to carry out airstrikes against terrorist targets across Africa, cautioning that foreign military interventions have historically worsened conflicts rather than resolving them.

This follows a statement by General James Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), who announced at the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Lusaka, Zambia, that the U.S. military would continue targeting groups like ISIS in Africa. Hecker argued that such airstrikes were essential to eliminating high-value terrorist threats that pose risks to both African nations and the United States.

However, PeacePro strongly disagrees with this approach, asserting that Africa’s security challenges should be addressed by Africans themselves, not through foreign military interventions. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, PeacePro’s Executive Director, issued a statement in Ilorin rejecting any form of foreign military presence in Africa.

The organization, which advocates for the demilitarization of the continent, believes that foreign airstrikes tend to cause civilian casualties, destabilize regions, and fuel terrorist recruitment rather than eliminating threats.

“We recognize the security challenges facing Africa, but we firmly oppose the militarization of our continent by foreign powers,” Hamzat stated. He pointed to past U.S. military interventions in Libya, Somalia, and the Sahel, where airstrikes and foreign military actions often exacerbated conflicts, caused civilian casualties, and led to long-term instability.

Hamzat also referenced the NATO-led intervention in Libya, which, though it resulted in the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, ultimately plunged the country into chaos, civil war, and became a breeding ground for terrorist groups like ISIS.