The National Security Symposium 2026 opened on Friday, May 16, at Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, with senior government officials and defence leaders calling for African-led solutions to the continent’s evolving security challenges. The symposium, organised by Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in partnership with University of Rwanda, brought together senior military officers, academics and security experts to deliberate on the theme of contemporary African security challenges. ALSO READ: Contemporary security issues on agenda as National Security Symposium 2024 starts Maj Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, the Commandant of RDF Command and Staff College, said the forum is designed to bridge theory and practice for future strategic leaders. “This symposium is not a mere academic exercise,” Nyamvumba said. “It represents a cornerstone of the RDF Command and Staff curriculum and a critical milestone in the Master of Arts in Security Studies programme.” The symposium provides officers from the 14th Senior Command and Staff Course and students from the National Intelligence Academy an opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, scholars and experienced practitioners. “Our primary objective is to bridge the theory and practice that we exercise at these colleges,” he noted. ALSO READ: African defence experts discuss global challenges, foreign interference Nyamvumba said the discussions are intended to move beyond analysis and focus on actionable, home-grown solutions to Africa’s security concerns. “The contemporary African security landscape underscores the fluid, complex and evolving nature of the threats we face,” he said. “We cannot solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s methods.” This year’s symposium is focusing on two key thematic areas: external interference in African affairs and natural resources management for sustainable development. Nyamvumba said discussions on external interference will examine how geopolitical interests complicate continental stability, while sessions on natural resources will explore how Africa can turn its vast endowment into a driver of long-term development and security. ‘Africa’s future must be shaped by Africans’ Foreign affairs minister Amb Olivier Nduhungirehe stressed the importance of African ownership in shaping the continent’s future. “Africa’s future must be shaped by Africans,” Nduhungirehe said, warning that external political, economic and military interference has often undermined the continent’s progress. ALSO READ: Generating sufficient energy to power national development a high priority – Rwandan minister says at security conference He said that Africa’s natural resources, if managed strategically and transparently, can become engines of sustainable development rather than sources of conflict. The minister called on participants to actively engage in the discussions and use the symposium as a platform to generate practical solutions to emerging security challenges The annual symposium serves as a platform for dialogue on Africa’s most pressing security concerns and contributes to strengthening strategic thinking within the region’s defence and security institutions.
