A national security symposium held at the Rwanda Defence Force Military Academy in Gako has underscored the growing concern over foreign interference in African affairs and its implications for peace, stability, and governance across the continent.
The one-day forum was jointly organized by the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College and the University of Rwanda, bringing together senior government officials, military leaders, policymakers, academics, students, and security experts to examine Africa’s contemporary security challenges.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe and Minister of Defence Juvenal Marizamunda, alongside senior security officials and defence personnel.
Discussions focused on key security themes, including foreign involvement in African internal affairs, the resulting challenges, and the need for African-led responses to emerging threats.
Participants also examined the relationship between Africa’s vast natural resources and development, noting both the opportunities they present and the vulnerabilities they create.
Analysts at the forum observed that Africa’s resource wealth has often attracted external interests, which in some cases have influenced domestic politics, fueled instability, and contributed to the emergence of armed groups competing for access to valuable minerals and other resources.
The symposium emphasized the importance of strengthening African ownership of security solutions, promoting regional cooperation, and ensuring that the continent’s natural resources are managed in a way that benefits its populations and supports sustainable development.
