Botswana’s President Duma Boko on Monday called for a fortified, intelligence-driven alliance among African nations to confront the growing threat of synthetic drugs, describing it as a transnational crisis that is outpacing conventional law enforcement.
Speaking at the opening of the African Union (AU) Global Coalition Continental Consultation on Synthetic Drug Supply Reduction in Gaborone, Boko warned that criminal syndicates are leveraging advanced technologies to traffic illicit substances and launder proceeds through sophisticated networks—undermining regional stability and public health.
“Our response must be equally swift and strategic,” Boko declared. “We cannot allow these networks to operate with impunity.”
He emphasized the need for intelligence-led policing, robust legal frameworks, and deeper regional cooperation, alongside proactive community engagement to dismantle drug trafficking operations and prevent societal harm.
AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Amma Twum-Amoah, outlined the Union’s multipronged strategy to counter synthetic drug proliferation. Key initiatives include:
– Establishing continental early-warning systems
– Developing integrated data platforms for member states
– Enhancing capacity-building and cross-border coordination
Twum-Amoah stressed that the AU’s approach aims to strengthen justice systems, promote rule of law, and advance crime prevention across the continent.
The three-day consultation, held under the theme “Strengthening Efforts Towards Addressing Drug Trafficking and Advancing Crime Prevention, Justice, Criminal Justice and Rule of Law in Africa,” has convened policymakers, law enforcement officials, and civil society leaders from across the continent.
As synthetic drugs increasingly infiltrate African markets, the Gaborone summit marks a pivotal moment in shaping a unified, intelligence-driven response to one of the region’s most pressing security and health challenges.
