As Borders Clog Up, Africa Moves to Pair Logistics with Security
About 40 African countries are discussing how stronger logistics and secure communications can improve collective security The symposium focuses on practical tools to track cargo, speed deliveries and protect operational data Slow customs clearance and weak transport systems remain major obstacles to both security operations and intra-African trade Logistics is. . .
About 40 African countries are discussing how stronger logistics and secure communications can improve collective securityThe symposium focuses on practical tools to track cargo, speed deliveries and protect operational dataSlow customs clearance and weak transport systems remain major obstacles to both security operations and intra-African tradeLogistics is becoming increasingly central to Africa’s security strategies. The U. S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Ethiopian National Defense Force opened the African Logistics and Communications Symposium, or ALCS, in Addis Ababa on Monday, July 27. Representatives from about 40 African countries are spending a week discussing asset management, cyber resilience and public-private partnerships. The 2026 event introduces a significantly different format. It combines the West Africa Logistics Conference and Africa Endeavor into a single continent-wide initiative. The merger reflects a shared belief among organizers that supply chain management and communications security can no longer be addressed separately. The two are now seen as closely linked challenges for the continent. Logistics as a Strategic InvestmentThe theme, “Forging Partnerships, Driving Innovation and Strengthening Collective Readiness,” sets the tone for a program centered on practical applications. An exhibition hall brings together technology providers and military decision-makers for live demonstrations. The program covers tracking tools, operational reporting, distribution from ports to final destinations and secure data integration. These solutions are intended to reduce transit times, improve cargo visibility and make supply chains more resilient. Two senior officials outlined the priorities during the opening ceremony. AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin R. M. Anderson acknowledged persistent underinvestment. “We do not always invest as much as we should in logistics and operational support. That is precisely one of the reasons we are here: to emphasize the importance of these foundational investments,” he said. U. S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin J. Massinga said robust logistics systems could also help countries attract investment. Ethiopian Defense Minister Aisha Mohammed said such systems were essential to responding to crises across the region. Corridors Remain Too Slow and CostlyInternational data illustrates the scale of the problem. The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, or LPI, ranks sub-Saharan Africa among the world’s least competitive regions. According to the “Connecting to Compete 2025” report, the most efficient ports clear containers in less than three days, compared with more than three weeks in countries with the weakest logistics systems. The African Continental Free Trade Area, or AfCFTA, is encouraging countries to adopt electronic customs systems to facilitate intra-African trade. The Abidjan-Lagos corridor is one of ECOWAS’ main trade routes in West Africa. Customs administrations across the region are already deploying SIGMAT, a digital interconnection system that allows member states to exchange transit data electronically. Félicien Houindo Lokossou