Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rome for the Aqaba Process Summit, a major gathering focused on restoring peace and stability across the Sahel region.
The high-level talks, held at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, bring together African leaders, defense chiefs, and security experts in a united push against terrorism and regional instability. Tinubu landed in the Italian capital on October 12, accompanied by his Minister of Defence, National Security Adviser, and top intelligence officials. His goal is clear — to strengthen alliances that will help secure West Africa’s future.
The Aqaba Process was launched by Jordan’s King Abdullah II in 2015 to boost coordination in global counter-terrorism efforts. Over the years, it has grown into a strategic platform linking security with sustainable development. This year’s edition is co-chaired by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and King Abdullah, fitting neatly into Meloni’s Mattei Plan for Africa, which aims to build equal partnerships through investment, governance, and security collaboration.
For Africa, the stakes are immense. The Sahel remains one of the most unstable regions in the world, with countries like Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger facing the daily threat of insurgency, poverty, and political unrest. The Global Terrorism Index reports that more than half of global terror deaths occur in West Africa — a grim reminder of how urgent cooperation has become.
Inside the summit, discussions center on stopping the spread of extremist groups, cutting off recruitment pipelines on social media, and tackling organized crime networks involved in trafficking people, weapons, and drugs. There’s also a growing emphasis on addressing the root causes of instability — poor governance, economic inequality, and lack of youth opportunities.
President Tinubu’s presence carries significant weight. As ECOWAS chair and leader of Africa’s largest economy, he brings both experience and urgency to the table. Nigeria continues to battle Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed banditry, challenges that have drained resources and displaced millions. With him in Rome are Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to regional security. The team is expected to push for deeper intelligence sharing, joint operations, and funding to rebuild communities devastated by violence.
The summit began with a high-level dinner at Villa Madama, hosted by Prime Minister Meloni and King Abdullah. Leaders from Chad, Sierra Leone, Togo, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Senegal joined in what many are calling one of the most important security dialogues of the year.
The message coming out of Rome is simple: Africa’s stability depends on unity and shared responsibility. For Tinubu, this is not just diplomacy — it’s a mission to secure Nigeria’s borders, rebuild trust across the Sahel, and remind the world that Africa can lead its own path to peace.
If the commitments made in Rome turn into real action, the summit could mark a turning point in West Africa’s fight against extremism. The world is watching, and history may well remember this moment as the beginning of a stronger, safer continent.
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