Africa Shield 2026: Protecting Development Through CBRN Security Becomes a Continental Priority

As African economies grow and adopt more advanced technologies, governments are confronting a rising challenge: safeguarding chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials used in healthcare, industry, research and mining from theft, diversion or misuse.

For many years, security debates on the continent centred mainly on armed groups, terrorism and conflict. Yet with expanding healthcare systems, growing mining activity and accelerating trade, authorities are handling ever larger volumes of sensitive CBRN materials that are vital to development.

Their wider use is increasing the need for stronger regulation, oversight and enforcement.

CBRN security encompasses radioactive sources applied in cancer treatment, chemicals used in manufacturing and mining, biological materials managed in laboratories, and technologies with both civilian and security uses.

Most of these materials are handled safely in daily operations, but weak regulation, insufficient oversight or theft can enable diversion for criminal or malicious ends.

“The same materials that strengthen healthcare, scientific research, mining and industry can also become security risks if poorly managed,” said Mubarak Aliyu, a Nigeria-based political and security risk analyst. “The challenge is not to restrict development, but to ensure that innovation is matched by effective oversight, secure handling practices and robust regulatory systems that prevent diversion or misuse without slowing economic progress.”

Securing growth

Held July 14-16 in Tunis, the Africa Shield 2026 Regional Counterproliferation Workshop convened more than 100 participants from across Africa, including law enforcement officials, military representatives, policymakers and national coordinators tasked with implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, which obliges states to stop non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and related materials.

The workshop was led by the International Counterproliferation Program of the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), together with the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence Risk Mitigation Initiative and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute.

Now in its sixth edition, Africa Shield supports African governments in strengthening their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to CBRN risks through training, coordination and capacity building.

The workshop explored how governments can keep materials intended for peaceful purposes secure as industries expand and cross-border links deepen.

The discussions underscored a practical challenge: ensuring that the systems protecting these materials evolve alongside the industries and services that rely on them.

From response to prevention

Africa Shield signals a shift from responding to CBRN incidents after they happen towards preventing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Instead of acting only after a crisis, the programme works to reduce risks through stronger border controls, export monitoring, emergency preparedness and tighter coordination among agencies.

Through partnerships with African governments and international organisations, Africa Shield advances the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540.

Major Brittany Brown, coordinator of DTRA’s Global Threat Reduction Africa Region Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction Program, said Africa Shield gives participating countries a platform to “exchange expertise and lessons learned” while deepening partnerships to tackle increasingly complex transnational security challenges.

Brown noted that the programme has allowed African countries to “clearly demonstrate their ownership of the counterproliferation problem set,” calling it “a critical multilateral investment” that reinforces cooperation across the continent.

Her remarks reflect a broader change in international security cooperation, as external partners place greater emphasis on building national institutions and capabilities rather than fostering long-term dependency.

Tunisia’s role as host highlighted the regional dimension of the issue. Situated between North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Sahel, the country lies at the crossroads of major trade and transport routes.

As these networks become more interconnected, the same corridors that enable commerce can also be used to move chemicals, radioactive sources and other controlled materials across borders.

The enforcement gap

The impact of Africa Shield will hinge not only on training and cooperation, but on whether governments can convert those efforts into stronger institutions and more effective enforcement.

Many African countries already have legal frameworks governing chemicals, radioactive materials and strategic trade, yet implementation remains inconsistent.

Authorities frequently lack the funding, specialised staff and modern equipment required to inspect shipments, monitor facilities and investigate potential violations.

Existing trafficking networks dealing in weapons, narcotics and other illicit goods reveal how difficult it is to police Africa’s vast borders and growing trade routes. The same gaps could expose controlled materials to diversion and unauthorized movement.

The expansion of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area adds further complexity. Governments must reinforce security without undermining the trade and investment the agreement seeks to encourage.

Striking that balance means strengthening security systems without erecting barriers that slow legitimate commerce.

“Monitoring shipments, securing materials and sharing intelligence across borders are daily struggles compounded by limited resources and exploited smuggling routes,” said Phil Efe Benard, country director of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) Nigeria. “We cannot rely solely on foreign partners. Building our own intelligence, forensic capacity and regional networks is essential, ensuring partnerships are built on African capacity, not dependency.”

Why it matters

Africa Shield illustrates a wider evolution in Africa’s security priorities, extending attention beyond traditional threats to the institutions, regulations and technical expertise required to protect increasingly modern economies.

For African governments, this entails stronger customs systems, closer coordination among regulators, border agencies and security services, and greater investment in specialised capabilities.

The overarching task is to ensure that security and development advance together.

“Economic development and security should mutually reinforce each other. By enhancing oversight and promoting the responsible management of sensitive and hazardous materials, we can create an environment where innovation can thrive safely,” Kupagme told Al Jazeera.

In the end, Africa Shield is about more than stopping the misuse of controlled materials. It marks a growing awareness that economic transformation brings new security responsibilities.

“One of the biggest obstacles is that CBRN security depends on consistent implementation rather than policy commitments alone,” Aliyu said. “Many countries still struggle with monitoring cross-border shipments, securing sensitive materials, enforcing regulations and sharing timely information with neighbours. Closing these gaps requires sustained investment, stronger institutions and greater trust between national authorities.”

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