Kigali, May 22-The 11th Annual National Security Symposium kicked off today at the Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda.
This three-day event, running from May 22nd to May 24th, brings together security agencies from Rwanda and across Africa.
The symposium is organized by the Rwanda Defense Force Command and Staff College in partnership with the University of Rwanda.
The opening ceremony was attended by several prominent officials, including Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, General Mubarakh Muganga.
In his keynote address, Minister Marizamunda emphasized the significance of the symposium, particularly as Rwanda marks the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Minister Marizamunda highlighted the profound lessons Rwandans have drawn from the genocide, contrasting this with the international community’s ongoing struggles with security issues. “As Rwandans, we have learned an enduring lesson. I wish I could say that international organizations have learned the lesson too,” he stated, underscoring the persistent global security challenges.
He detailed a range of contemporary threats, including terrorism, youth radicalization, violent extremism, and cyber threats, along with governance failures, climate change, global energy disruptions, and food insecurity. These challenges, he stressed, necessitate urgent and collective solutions.
“All these challenges combined together particularly remind the world, especially the African continent, that finding solutions to these problems has become more urgent than ever,” he said, advocating for a coordinated approach involving governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
The National Security Symposium offers a unique platform for high-level government officials, policymakers, security practitioners, and senior military officers to engage in thorough discussions on these issues.
It is planned that over the next three days, participants will attend sessions and workshops designed to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions to enhance regional and global security. The event also provides an opportunity for networking and building partnerships to develop more effective security measures and policies.
Photos: Rwanda Defence Force
