NATIONAL SECURITY SYMPOSIUM CALLS FOR AFRICAN SELF-RELIANCE

The RDF Command and Staff College, in collaboration with the University of Rwanda, today organized a one-day National Security Symposium at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako.
The symposium was attended by senior government officials, including the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Hon Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, as well as senior defence and security officials.

The event brought together military officers, policymakers, academics, and security experts to discuss Africa’s evolving security challenges.

While opening the symposium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, emphasized that Africa’s future must be shaped by Africans.
“External interference, whether political, economic, or military, has too often undermined our collective progress,” he said, urging African countries to take the lead in shaping their own security future.

During the discussions, participants called for African-led solutions to insecurity, warning that external interference and weak governance continue to undermine stability across the continent.

The forum also examined the role of Africa’s natural resources, emphasizing that they can drive sustainable development if managed transparently and responsibly. Speakers noted that foreign influence now extends beyond military and political intervention to include economic pressure, debt dependency, and information manipulation, all of which can weaken local institutions and hinder Africa’s progress.

The symposium concluded with a strong call for unity and coordinated action. Participants agreed that lasting peace and security in Africa depend on strong institutions, strategic cooperation, transparency, and self-reliance.

The discussions were described as an important platform for students attending the Senior Command and Staff Course, helping to strengthen their leadership capacity and problem-solving skills in addressing the complex security challenges facing the African continent.