Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, has urged African countries to strengthen cooperation and invest in home-grown technological capabilities to address emerging security challenges.
Nduhungirehe made the call on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the opening of the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali, bringing together security officials, policymakers, researchers and representatives of regional and international organisations.
The conference has attracted participants from more than 50 countries to discuss the security implications and opportunities created by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems.
Nduhungirehe said AI and autonomous technologies are becoming increasingly accessible and are no longer limited to governments and state institutions. He warned that their growing availability to non-state actors, including terrorist groups, is creating new security challenges.
“Africa cannot afford to be left behind as this technology continues to advance,” Nduhungirehe said.
He said African security and defence institutions must continuously adapt to technological developments and strengthen their ability to anticipate and respond to emerging threats.
The minister also stressed the need for African countries to understand the potential impact of autonomous systems on national security, sovereignty and independent decision-making.
While acknowledging the risks, Nduhungirehe said emerging technologies could also provide opportunities to strengthen security across the continent, particularly in combating terrorism, armed groups and organised crime.
He called for greater investment in African expertise, institutions and technological capabilities to ensure that solutions developed and deployed on the continent respond to its specific needs.
“This means developing the knowledge and capabilities we need, strengthening our institutions and building the capacity to adapt and develop solutions that reflect our circumstances,” he said.
Nduhungirehe’s remarks come as AI and autonomous systems continue to expand globally, prompting governments to consider how such technologies can be deployed responsibly in security and defence while limiting the risks associated with their misuse.
ISCA Secretary General Lt Gen (Rtd) Frank Mushyo Kamanzi said the security sector should not lag behind other sectors in adopting advanced technologies that are increasingly transforming the way societies and institutions operate.
The conference builds on discussions held during the 2025 ISCA edition in Rwanda, where President Paul Kagame called for greater African ownership of the continent’s security agenda.
Kagame said Africa should move away from approaches in which its security is largely managed by external actors and instead strengthen its capacity to develop solutions that reflect African interests and realities.
ISCA is a platform for dialogue, research, knowledge exchange and cooperation on emerging security challenges facing Africa.
