Heads of intelligence and security services from across the African continent, today, convene in Kigali to discuss key security concerns.

The high-level Conference of the Committee of Intelligence (CISSA) will attract Chiefs of Intelligence Services from 51 African countries.

Under the theme, "Countering the Growing threat of Abuse of Universal Jurisdiction against Africa”, participants will explore persistent security challenges confronting the continent.

They will examine how African countries have fallen victim to abuse of universal jurisdiction by a section of western powers.

Experts say that, rather than bring Genocide perpetrators and deniers living in their countries to justice, some Western countries continue to target those who stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

According to Brig General Joseph Nzabamwita, Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Service, the conference will be an opportunity to discuss the continent’s security issues and information sharing.

With Rwanda having a global reputation of safety and security, the gathering will serve as a platform to share its experience with the rest of the CISSA members.

"Rwanda is honoured for yet again hosting leaders from Africa, after the just concluded Africa Union Summit; this is in line with our leadership’s goal of putting international security at the forefront,” Nzabamwita said.

The 51 member body was established in 2004 in Abuja, Nigeria to assist the African Union to effectively address the security challenges confronting the continent.

The body was also conceived as mechanism of dialogue, study, analysis, consulting, and adopting common strategies towards common security challenges among intelligence and security organisations of Africa.

CISSA has a permanent seat in the African Union Peace and Security Council where it makes periodic presentations and briefings.

In the briefings, it updates the Security Council on current thematic issues and regular strategic early warning issues.

At the conference, Rwanda will take over the CISSA chairmanship and will hold the position for a period of one year.

As per the organisation rules of procedure, the host of the conference automatically becomes the chairperson of CISSA, except when the conference is held at the headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

As part of the tourism development strategy, Rwanda has positioned itself as a conference destination under an initiative dubbed; Meeting Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions. 

In this regards, the National Intelligence and Security Service plans to introduce a semi-paperless conference to promote Rwanda as both an innovative country and IT hub in Africa.

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