Africa Shield: Why securing development is becoming a new security priority

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that African governments and international partners are putting greater emphasis on securing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials as the continent’s economies industrialise and rely more on advanced healthcare, mining, manufacturing, research and trade. The report said these materials are widely used for peaceful development, including cancer treatment, laboratories and industry, but can become security risks if regulation, storage, transport or enforcement is weak.

The article focused on the Africa Shield 2026 Regional Counterproliferation Workshop, held July 14-16 in Tunis, Tunisia. According to Al Jazeera, the event gathered more than 100 participants from across Africa, including law enforcement, military officials, policymakers and coordinators working on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, which requires states to stop non-state actors from obtaining weapons of mass destruction and related materials. The workshop was led by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s International Counterproliferation Program, with EU and UN-linked partners.

Al Jazeera said the programme, now in its sixth edition, is aimed at helping African governments prevent, detect and respond to CBRN risks through training, coordination and capacity building. Discussions covered border controls, export monitoring, emergency preparedness and cooperation across agencies. The report framed Tunisia’s role as significant because of its position near North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Sahel, where commercial corridors can also present smuggling risks.

The report also highlighted implementation gaps. Many countries have relevant laws, but limited funding, technical staff and inspection equipment can weaken enforcement. As trade expands, including under the African Continental Free Trade Area, governments face the challenge of improving controls without obstructing legitimate commerce. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the broader issue is matching economic growth with national and regional capacity to manage sensitive materials safely.