Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Darfur, has been appointed to the advisory council of the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA).
This appointment was announced during ISCA’s official launch at a two-day forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 19 and 20, 2025.
Gambari views the establishment of ISCA as a crucial opportunity for Africa to re-evaluate its global standing and capabilities, especially as it seeks permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.
He emphasized Africa’s demand for five permanent seats on the council, with at least two carrying veto powers, noting that Africa has often faced the repercussions of international decisions without a voice in multilateral processes.
As the Chairman and Founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), Gambari has actively promoted African perspectives on global governance.
In 2024, in collaboration with the Washington D.C.-based Stimson Centre and other NGOs, he organized a three-day African regional conference in Abuja focusing on reforms of the United Nations and the multilateral system.
The SCDDD engages in research, advocacy, and training related to peace, security, governance, and sustainable development across Africa and beyond.
Gambari has advocated for reforms within the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to enhance the continent’s conflict resolution capabilities.
He also supports making all UN peace operations in Africa hybrid missions, jointly mandated and conducted by both the UN and the African Union, to improve peace processes in the region.
He underscored the importance of Africa taking its institutions seriously and reimagining its security framework. During a visit with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, Gambari urged African leaders to reflect on the original intent behind the continent’s peace and security architecture and to demonstrate commitment towards a more peaceful, developed, and secure Africa.
Gambari, who also served as Chief of Staff to former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, stressed that Africa must understand its own challenges and develop home-grown solutions.
While acknowledging the value of international partnerships, he insisted that sustainable solutions require the continent to look inward.
The Kigali forum brought together continental and global defense, intelligence, and security stakeholders to address pressing challenges and explore collaborative strategies.
ISCA aims to facilitate roundtable discussions among experts, policymakers, civil society members, and academics to foster open debate on critical security issues, policy formulation, and regional cooperation.
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