The international security system established after World War II is rapidly becoming outdated and must be reimagined to address the interests of all nations. This message was delivered by Seydou Ouattara, Deputy Chairman of Burkina Faso's National Council for State Security, during the plenary session of the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in Moscow.
"The post-World War II global security architecture is visibly falling apart. While this system was supposed to be based on reciprocity, equality, and peace, in practice it has become a sophisticated mechanism that contradicts its founding principles—allowing some countries to dominate while others suffer or simply observe from the sidelines," Ouattara remarked, as reported by African Initiative.
He highlighted that countries of the Global South and East have been largely excluded from security decision-making. "The current international security framework is clearly out of touch with today's realities," Ouattara stated, pointing to conflicts in Syria, Sudan, Gaza, and the Sahel as stark illustrations of this problem.
Ouattara called for a new model of international security that rests on three essential pillars: genuine sovereign equality among states, meaningful inclusion of all nations, and moving away from confrontational approaches in favor of addressing the root causes of conflicts.
"A truly effective global peace and security architecture must focus on eliminating the underlying drivers of conflict, since, in the end, force and coercion tend to create more problems than they solve," he stressed.
According to Ouattara, the widening divide between North and South—exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and recent political changes in the Sahel region—has created a unique opportunity for systemic reform. He argued, "Equality among nations is not a legal utopia, but a necessity for survival in a multipolar and interconnected world."
Ouattara expressed his belief that nations of the Global South and East must unite to help create a fairer and more balanced world—one built on mutual respect for sovereignty and the dignity of all peoples.
The 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues is being held from May 27 to 29 at the National Center "Russia" in Moscow. The event brings together delegations from 45 countries across Africa, as well as representatives from leading African continental organizations, including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Buinta Bembeyeva
