Global security challenges, migration and foreign interference in Africa are some of the major subjects discussed at the 10th National Security Symposium which began on Wednesday, May 17, in Kigali.
This year’s symposium, held under the theme "Contemporary Security Challenges: The African Perspective,” brought together defence officials, policymakers, diplomats and academics from across the continent and beyond.
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Jointly organized by the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College and the University of Rwanda, the conference on security gives participants an opportunity to deliberate on practical solutions to the current security issues in Africa.
"Over the years, the National Security Symposium has widened our understanding and perspectives by listening to diverse views from policymakers, security practitioners and scholars,” Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Albert Murasira, said as he opened the three-day conference.
Murasira said this year’s symposium will be an occasion to discuss topics such as building institutions and capacities for good governance, migration, emerging digital technologies, foreign interference and the future of peacekeeping.
The scope of global issues and the results of fragmentation are greater than what can be handled by the procedures and institutions in place today, he noted.
"At all levels, there is a growing mismatch between challenges and demands with systems and mechanisms designed to address them. As communities, governments and the international system become more fragmented, it will be more difficult to address these transnational concerns,” Murasira said.
All these challenges, he noted, have reminded the world and the African continent in particular about the fragility of modern times and the inherent risks of high levels of interdependence.
"The need to promote inter-state, inter-agency collaboration and cooperation has become more urgent and important to respond to emerging threats. The contribution of the private sector and civil society is very crucial in this endeavor,” the Minister said.
The Deputy Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College, Col Jean-Chrisostome Ngendahimana, said on the agenda are discussions about foreign interference in African politics, which hinders any progress made by the continent towards peace and security. Also to be discussed are topics on peacekeeping operations in Africa as well as trade among African countries, with a focus on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
"In order for us to develop, we need to go beyond just the inter-state trade and cooperation and achieve continental integration to make Africa a single market, with the free movement of people,” he said.
Ngendahimana said the symposium will especially be an occasion for the students who are in the final phase of their security studies to engage with leaders and security experts to get diverse views on possible solutions to security threats.
The defence college based in Nyakinama, Musanze District, currently has 42 students, with 17 of them coming from other allied African countries. They get master’s degrees in security studies.
Also invited at the symposium are defence staff colleges from Africa.