KIGALI - Kigali will be the venue for this year’s Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) organized seminar that is expected to tackle security resource management.

The five-day meeting that is expected to bring together mid-level military and civilian officials representing over ten Central and Eastern African countries responsible for resource management in Africa’s security sector gets underway on Monday. It is the first time that Rwanda is hosting the seminar.
According to a press release from the centre, the US Department of Defence-funded event will reinforce the link between effective resource management and the attainment of national security goals. 

It will highlight the importance of predictable policy environments, transparent procedures, and accountable officials; demonstrate the importance of adopting appropriate, internationally-recognized budgetary and procurement practices.

"This seminar is organized and sponsored by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) based in Washington, DC. 37 participants drawn from the military and civilian institutions including the civil society are expected to attend,” Army Spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara said when contacted. He added that the participants will be drawn from 14 African countries including the host Rwanda.

"The seminar is aimed at building the capacity of participants in managing security resources.”

Meanwhile, the statement said that the seminar will reinforce the link between effective resource management and the attainment of national security goals.

The seminar is expected to be opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Rosemary Museminali on Monday while Minister of Defence Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi will officially close it.

The keynote speech will be given by Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning Director General of Macroeconomics and Planning, Prosper Musafiri.

In March1999, the US Department of Defence launched its flagship engagement programme for Africa, the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), after thorough consultations with interested governments, organizations and individuals in Africa, Europe and the United States.

The ACSS aims to support an appropriate military role in democratic governance by offering senior African leaders, civilian and military, a rigorous academic and practical programme in civil-military relations, national security strategy, and defence economics.

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