This report brings a fresh, Africa-focused lens to the debate on defence spending and development—shifting the narrative from trade-offs to synergy. It does not pit security against development; it shows how, when managed strategically, they can reinforce each other. The report makes a clear case: it is not the size of defence budgets that matters most, but how they are governed. Transparency, accountability, and coherent policies are key to ensuring that security spending strengthens stability and drives long-term development, rather than placing additional strain on limited public resources.

In doing so, it complements the Secretary-General’s 2025 report The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future (United Nations, 2025), which calls for a global shift towards human-centred security and sustainable development.