The second edition of the Land Forces Commanders Symposium (LFCS) opened this morning at Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo, bringing together senior military leaders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on new strategies for strengthening peace and security on the continent.

The two-day forum is bringing together academicians, government officials, diplomats, and subject matter experts, including Generals, Senior Military, Police Officers, and civilians discuss contemporary security issues on a revolving theme "Leveraging Land Forces Capabilities for Enhanced Implementation of Peace and Security Strategies.”

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On the first day of the symposium, experts are expected to discuss two emerging priorities in modern military thinking — rethinking land operations in the age of drone warfare and promoting bilateral defense cooperation as a complement to multilateral peace frameworks.

According to the RDF, the symposium serves as a high-level platform for land forces commanders to exchange insights, share lessons from field operations, and explore collaborative responses to evolving security threats.

The forum, RDF added, also underscores a growing recognition that African armies must adapt to new realities in warfare while remaining grounded in citizen-centered defense values.

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The discussions come at a time when African militaries are confronting increasingly complex security environments — from insurgencies and terrorism to cyber threats and hybrid conflicts — prompting calls for greater innovation, interoperability, and strategic partnerships.

Rwanda, which has in recent years expanded its peacekeeping and bilateral military engagements in regions such as Mozambique and the Central African Republic, is positioning the symposium as a space to advance continental dialogue on the future of defense cooperation.

Beyond traditional peacekeeping frameworks, participants are expected to deliberate on the operational, ethical, and strategic implications of drone technology, as well as how bilateral arrangements can provide faster, more flexible responses to security crises.

The symposium will also feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and bilateral engagements, with the participation of land forces commanders, defense experts, and representatives of regional and international security institutions.