Rwanda Hosts 19th African Heads of Military Colleges Conference, Calls for Innovation and Unity in Security

Kigali, Rwanda - Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, has called for greater innovation, collaboration, and unity among African nations to effectively address the continent’s evolving security challenges.

Speaking at the opening of the 19th African Heads of Military Colleges Conference (ACoC) on Monday, November 10, 2025, in Kigali, Minister Marizamunda emphasized that Africa’s strength in defense and security depends on its capacity to innovate and work together.

“In today’s technologically advanced world, facing many security challenges, the capacity of our schools to innovate and collaborate is what determines our security strength as Africans,” he said. “We face many challenges including terrorism, cyber warfare, illicit trade, climate change, and migration. To overcome them, we need soldiers who are highly skilled, technologically literate, ethical, and forward-thinking.”

The three-day conference, which gathers delegates from 24 countries, is being held under the theme: “The Future of Military Training and Education in Africa: Bridging the Technology Gap.” Established to enhance knowledge-sharing and professional development across the continent’s defense institutions, ACoC serves as a vital platform for advancing military education and cooperation.

The meeting brought together heads of military colleges, representatives of the African Union Peace and Security Service, and regional defense experts.

Minister Marizamunda urged participants to ensure that their deliberations translate into tangible progress. “I urge all participants to ensure that your discussions are open and constructive, and that the decisions you make are practical and actionable. The future of military education in Africa will depend on what we agree on today and how we implement it,” he said.

He also praised the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Military Academy for its leadership during Rwanda’s tenure as chair of ACoC, noting the institution’s role in fostering unity and advancing continental security education. Rwanda is expected to hand over the chairmanship to Tanzania at the close of the conference.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Nyamvumba, Commandant of the RDF Military Academy, highlighted that ACoC serves not only as a network of military training institutions but also as a hub for the exchange of knowledge and strategic insight. “This conference is a platform for pooling African military expertise and wisdom. It is where ideas are shared, traditions are refined, and partnerships are strengthened to build a secure, resilient, and self-reliant Africa,” he said.

Incoming chair Maj. Gen. Stephen Mnkande, Commandant of the Tanzanian Military Academy, stressed the importance of strengthening technology-driven institutions to respond to modern security threats.

Similarly, Air Commodore (Brig. Gen.) N. Maghidir, Commandant of the Libyan Military Academy, underscored that cooperation must remain the cornerstone of Africa’s collective security.

Delegates attending the conference represent countries including Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Botswana, Burundi, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, the Central African Republic, Somalia, and Rwanda.

The conference is expected to conclude with key resolutions on strengthening military education systems and enhancing regional defense collaboration to ensure a safer and more self-reliant Africa.