World leaders on Thursday agreed to redesign security architecture to effectively address the challenges of insecurity occasioned by insurgency and conflicts across the African continent.

The resolution is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day Nigeria’s centenary international Summit on “Human Security, Peace and Development: An Agenda for Africa” held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, read the communiqué of the summit which was attended by local and foreign participants, including 30 presidents and heads of government from Africa, Europe and other continents.

The leaders recognised that the enemies of the state today in Africa are faceless, driven by religious extremism, ethnic mistrust, rivalries and propaganda of hate and have therefore reached an agreement that any act of terror against one nation is an act of terror against all.

“Leaders agreed not to use their countries as havens for terrorists and to cooperate to adopt protocols that allow countries to pursue terrorists well into safe havens in other countries and manage their political boundaries to end trans-boundary terrorism and insurgencies,” the communiqué said.

It stressed that “the battle against terrorism is a battle for democracy,” and called for greater cooperation in intelligence gathering and sharing.

The communiqué also said that the African leaders resolved to stem the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which aid terrorism and other trans-nationally transmitted organised crimes.

Participants of the conference lauded the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to deal with the menace of Boko Haram sect and pledged their solidarity and support of their various countries in the war to deal with terrorism in Nigeria.

The Communiqué stated too that African leaders resolved to redouble their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and culture in their respective countries especially through greater commitment to good governance, transparency and the rule of law.

To this end, it said cost of governance, elections and electioneering should be reduced to deliver the full dividends of democracy to their people.

The African leaders noted that the rising population of skilled and educated unemployed youths remains a major challenge to human security, peace and development and called for a sharp focus on creating jobs for Africa’s teeming youths in the areas of skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, agriculture as a business and in terms of access to finance.

They also called for an urgent need to reduce inequality and ensure inclusive growth including social policies that improve access to food, water, housing and education that were crucial to inclusive social participation.