The United States African Command has said that Nigeria and other African countries are facing growing security threats, including human trafficking and illegal narcotics.

Director of Logistics at U. S. AFRICOM, Paul Filcek, said this on Wednesday during a digital press conference on the ongoing 2026 Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium, co-hosted with the Ethiopian Ministry of Defence.

“Across the African continent we face growing and converging threats on our mutual security, safety, and prosperity, including human trafficking and a dramatic rise in illegal narcotics trafficking – now more than six times what it was just two years ago,” Mr Filcek said.

The symposium, which brought together delegates from 39 African nations and 27 private-sector partners, had the theme, “Forging Partnerships, Driving Innovation, and Enhancing Collective Readiness.”

Mr Filcek noted that to defeat the growing threats, African countries must rely on effective communication and rapidly move people, equipment and supplies to points of need.

He added, “Meeting and defeating these grave threats require cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions.”

Citing how equipment were transported across the African continent to support allies, the director emphasised that Africa must become ever smarter with its limited resources.  

“We need greater interoperability and increasing (inaudible) partnerships. This symposium brings together these 40 partner nations and 27 companies precisely to foster this important dialogue – not just in the sessions but in the conversations outside the rooms.

“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment that is the AFRICOM strategic element enabled by investments, creates stability which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Mr Filcek noted.

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Middle East and Africa, Mark Mitchell, also spoke on investment partnerships with Nigeria, Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire geared towards opening competitive and transparent markets that protect sovereignty and unlock innovation on the continent.

“Our work on commercial diplomacy, data governance and investment partnerships with countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire reflect a commitment to fair regulatory environments that unlock innovation and protect sovereignty,” Mr Mitchell said.

He stated that the U.S. partnership was rooted in long-term, enterprise-driven with U.S. companies bringing world-class technology in logistics and communications that could help African nations build the security and stability required for growth.

Mr Mitchell also noted that artificial intelligence could transform African logistics through route optimisation, predictive fleet maintenance and faster customs processing.

He added, “Keep your data yours. American companies can build large, independent AI infrastructure with secure and robust supply chains that minimise backdoor risk, plus cryptographically protect confidentiality, and world-leading security to keep sensitive logistics and trade data within your borders and under your control.”

This year’s symposium merged logistics and communications into a single conference, highlighting collaboration, innovation, and next-generation technology and logistics solutions required among African partners to fight security threats.