27th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – A Global Security Agenda for Africa

Mr. François Baird urged Western policymakers to treat Africa as a central strategic priority rather than a peripheral concern. He argued that the United States and Europe have neglected Africa for decades, allowing China, Russia, and other actors to expand their economic, military, and political influence across the continent. With Africa’s rapidly growing and youthful population, rising instability, expanding Islamist terrorism, and increasing geopolitical competition, he warned that Africa is now more important to global security and prosperity than ever before.

He emphasized that Western Africa policy has been largely ineffective and overly shaped by domestic political concerns rather than African realities. He called for a new security agenda grounded in practical engagement, economic growth, and reliable partnership. Central to this approach is affordable and accessible energy development using Africa’s own resources, which he described as essential for industrialization, job creation, food production, healthcare, and education. He argued that imposing restrictive climate policies on Africa is counterproductive to poverty reduction and stability.

He also advocated strengthening property rights, constitutional governance, anti-corruption efforts, and legal institutions while engaging all African governments, including military-led ones, in counterterrorism and anti-corruption cooperation. Renewing and expanding trade initiatives such as AGOA, encouraging private investment, supporting large-scale commercial agriculture, and backing young African reformers were presented as key pillars of restoring Western influence.

Mr. Baird concluded that if the West fails to act decisively, malign actors will continue filling the vacuum, increasing global instability. A stronger, economically empowered Africa aligned with democratic partners, he argued, would benefit both the continent and the broader international community.