Today, Monday, January 21, 2019, opening of international conference to launch ShieldAfrica 2019, the International Defence and Security exhibition that takes place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from the 22 to 24 January 2019. For the edition 2019 of the event, the Plenary Conference is dedicated to the Security and the control of Land, Sea and Air Borders to increase the development of Africa.
Speakers at ShieldAfrica 2019 Conference in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Monday, January 21, 2019. (Picture source Army Recognition)
The conference is supported by the Minister of State, Minister of Defence of Côte d’Ivoire. Many African Delegations from various countries on the continent take part in the conference organised the day before the ShieldAfrica 2019 defense and security exhibition. Many exhibiting companies are also participated to meet the Military and Security Delegations in an informal way.
According a publication of Laurent Touchard from the Defense Research Unit of IFRI (Institut français des relations internationales - French Institute of International Relations), African borders are known as much for their porosity as for their governing principle of intangibility. Yet, in 2014, only 35.8% of the continent's land borders were clearly delimited. To improve relations between nations and reduce territorial disputes, the African Union initiated the African Union Border Program (AUBP) with the aim, inter alia, of helping African States "address cross-border criminal activities through pragmatic border management".
African borders are places of exchange just as much as they are zones of confrontation and rivalry. These interfaces stretch several hundred thousand kilometers. While they may be neglected because they are outlying, they are also essential for State security and international trade. This profile has major impacts in terms of defending, protecting and securing the areas in question. With cross-border threats posed mostly by non-government organizations practicing guerrilla warfare and often associated with trans- and intercontinental smuggling and trafficking, African defense and security forces face numerous challenges. Two types of system have emerged over time and structure cross-border security policies: firstly “walls” – i.e. all the static systems designed to ban access to a territory and therefore channel flows around crossing points to facilitate their surveillance and security – and secondly, “men”, i.e. the deployment of security forces patrolling on either side of the border.
With its conference, ShieldAfrica 2019 is the heart of Africa to bring together the actors and decision-makers of African governmental institutions of defense and security to find and propose new solutions to fight the increase of international terrorism and continue the protection of borders. Africa is currently facing important political challenges, economic and demographic factors that require more security and safety.
A total 595 members of African Security Forces and Armed Forces from 50 countries mostly coming from Africa attend ShieldAfrica 2019 conference and exhibition.
595 members of African Security Forces and Armed Forces from 50 countries mostly coming from Africa attend ShieldAfrica 2019 conference and exhibition
