Early November saw central east Africa host two conferences and a high level defence visit all with the common cause of strengthening continentally led peace and security initiatives.
Topping the list was the Africa Rising Conference in Addis Ababa on 5 November where effective response to continental peace and security challenges by African institutions and regional mechanisms, such as the East African Community (EAC), was on the table.
Five days later on Monday this week the 19th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC) of the continent’s African defence command and staff colleges met in Kigali, Rwanda. Attended by delegates from 24 countries.
The Rwandan capital conference was themed “The future of African military training and education, bridging the digital divide”, and aimed at innovation and collaboration. It was convened to address what Rwandan Defence Minister Juvenal Marizamunda called the continent’ evolving security challenges.
“The threats facing Africa are multifaceted, from terrorism and cyber warfare to illegal migration, transnational crime and climate-related insecurity. Addressing these requires a generation of officers who are not only tactically proficient but also digitally literate, ethically grounded and strategically agile. This is the essence of professional military education in the 21st century,” he told delegates.
Continuing he said in today’s interconnected, complex and technology-driven security environment, the ability of military institutions to adapt, innovate and collaborate will determine the strength of Africa’s collective defence posture.
In the Ethiopian capital, AU Commission Special Representative and Head of the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, told delegates durable solutions must be rooted in African ownership and leadership, in line with the AU vision of ‘African solutions to African problems’.
Diene emphasised the importance of “deepened partnerships and sustained collaboration” among African governments, regional bodies and international partners to mobilise funding to sustain efforts to end conflicts and consolidate peace and stability.
Ahead of the Kigali conference, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Chief, General Charles Kahariri, re-affirmed his country’s strong defence relations with Rwanda when he met Marizamunda and Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) Chief of Staff (CoS) General Mubarakh Muganga at RDF headquarters.
Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence co-operation, with both sides agreeing to renew and expand the existing defence co-operation agreement to include new areas such as technology integration and joint innovation.
Muganga highlighted the dynamic regional security environment and called for deeper collaboration to counter emerging threats. He credited KDF mentorship for shaping the RDF into one of Africa’s most capable and professional forces, now a leading contributor to peacekeeping missions across the continent, the Kenya Defence Ministry reported.
Kahariri praised RDF transformation and its embrace of technology in defence operations, calling it a model for modern military preparedness. “Innovation is now as critical as discipline on the battlefield,” he said, reaffirming KDF’s readiness to work with RDF in sustaining regional peace and stability.
Post the ministerial meeting Kahariri addressed senior officers from Rwanda and allied countries at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) telling them, among others, they should redefine their roles beyond traditional defence functions by shaping environments that foster security, stability and economic growth.
He advocated stronger regional collaboration through frameworks like the African Standby Force (ASF) to ensure readiness and interoperability. In this regard enhanced cyber resilience, rapid crisis communication and inter-agency co-operation to safeguard national interests in an era of disinformation all have to be part of the professional soldier’s armoury.
November is set to see several more defence and security conferences. Next week (17-19 November) Dakar will host the ninth Symposium of Chiefs of Staff and Coast Guard Commanders of the Gulf of Guinea. Organized by the Senegalese Navy, the symposium brings together more than 27 navies and coast guards from three continents, and will focus on the theme “Cooperation between the Gulf of Guinea and the nations of the Atlantic area: developing synergies for security and prosperity.”
The CSIR ICC in Pretoria will on Wednesday 19 November host the Border Management Conference and Expo 2025. Topics to be addressed at the conference encompass a holistic approach to the management of South Africa’s points of entry and exit, ensuring ease of movement of people and goods within strict and comprehensive security management protocols.
On Friday 21 November, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) is hosting an Aerospace and Defence Sector Roundtable in Johannesburg, with the theme of “Advancing Innovation and Enhancing Local Competitiveness in South Africa’s Aerospace and Defence Sector.”
