President Mahama warns Africa against becoming geopolitical battleground

President John Dramani Mahama has called on Africa to take a proactive role in shaping the emerging global order, warning against the continent becoming a battleground for geopolitical rivalries and competition over critical minerals, global supply chains, and technological advancement.

He made the remarks at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, on 24 October 2026.

President Mahama said the global architecture is undergoing seismic shifts, with geopolitical rivalries, volatile supply chains, and unprecedented technological disruption redefining the international order.

“Africa cannot remain a passive bystander, nor can we allow our continent to become an arena for external contestation,” he said.

As Chairperson of the Tana Forum Board, he presented the 2026 State of Peace and Security in Africa Report, which covers developments from January 2025 to June 2026.

President Mahama argued that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) should not be viewed solely as a commercial initiative.

“The AfCFTA is perhaps our greatest architecture for conflict prevention,” he said.

He explained that stronger trade links could raise the economic cost of conflict and encourage countries to see their neighbours as valuable trading partners and suppliers rather than adversaries.

He added that integrated and traceable value chains could help dismantle illicit economies tied to smuggled minerals, illegal taxation at roadblocks, and the activities of warlords.

The President also highlighted the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which facilitates cross-border payments in African currencies. He described it as another mechanism for strengthening regional economic ties and reducing Africa’s exposure to external economic shocks.

President Mahama cautioned, however, that economic integration alone could not resolve conflicts, stressing that political agreements and settlements remained necessary for lasting peace.

“Trade cannot replace political settlement, but poverty and border friction will always guarantee war,” he said.

About the forum

The forum, held from 23 to 25 October 2026 under the theme “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation”, was established by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Ababa University and the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It promotes African-led solutions to the continent’s security challenges.

African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf sent a message to the forum, delivered by Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also addressed delegates.