Kagame highlights three pillars key for Africa's security future #rwanda #RwOT

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the inaugural International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali on Monday, May 19, Kagame outlined three key pillars he said are vital for Africa's long-term peace and stability: ownership, governance, and cooperation.

Held under the theme 'Reshaping Africa's Landscape in a Dynamic, Complex Global Environment,' the two-day forum at the Kigali Convention Centre brought together continental and global defence, intelligence, and security leaders to tackle urgent challenges and craft joint solutions.

'Africa's future, particularly in matters of peace and security, cannot be outsourced,' Kagame told the delegates.

'For far too long, our security has been treated as a burden to be managed by others, often without our context or consent. This approach has failed to deliver â€" both for Africa and for the world.'

Ownership and responsibility

Kagame stressed that the first step is for African nations to take full ownership of their security agendas. He cautioned against blaming foreign interference while simultaneously creating the conditions that invite it.

'Sovereignty is not just about defending borders â€" it's about taking responsibility for our security, as individual states and collectively as a continent,' he noted.

The President called for strengthened continental institutions, particularly the African Union and its Peace and Security Council, to ensure that Africa is equipped to handle its internal challenges.

The governance-security nexus

The second pillar, Kagame emphasised, is the interdependence of governance and security. He noted that when one fails, the other is inevitably weakened.

'Security is not just about the absence of threats. It is about creating an environment where people can live with dignity, enjoy their rights, and look to the future with hope and confidence.'

He highlighted the need for governments to build trust by ensuring effective institutions, equitable development, and inclusive politics.

Cooperation and innovation

The third pillar Kagame emphasised is cooperation. In an increasingly borderless world threatened by terrorism, pandemics, cybercrime, and climate-related disasters, he argued no country can secure itself alone.

'Cooperation must be strategic, intentional, and innovative. The key to overcoming security challenges lies in our ability to produce our own solutions,' he said.

He pointed to the exhibition attached to the conference as evidence of the innovation possible when Africa invests in its own capacity and technology.

'Where we have capacity, we must scale it. Where we lack it, this is the time and place to build it â€" and to cooperate.'

Kagame also appealed to delegates to match political will with technical expertise, aligning national interests with continental priorities.

'Let us leave here not just informed, but more resolved to do more and better,' he added.

Also speaking at the opening session was Moussa Faki Mahamat, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Chair of the ISCA Advisory Council. He hailed the launch of ISCA as 'a turning point' for Africa, describing it as a long-overdue strategic space for reflection and dialogue on peace and security matters.

'Africa's security cannot rely on imported solutions,' Faki said. 'We often say and repeat: African solutions to African problems.'

The former AUC boss warned that instability, broken promises, and marginalisation of youth are not merely development failures but drivers of insecurity. Echoing Kagame, he called for clear mandates, sustainable funding, and proactive approaches to regional threats.

Faki said the Institute for Security and Conflict Analysis (ISCA) fills a critical gap by offering a platform for data-driven decision-making, policy innovation, and rigorous debate.

'The future we hope for cannot emerge by chance. It must be shaped with rigour, clarity, and method â€" but above all, it must be built together.'

The ISCA conference continues on Tuesday with high-level panels and closed-door sessions expected to define strategic pathways for a more secure and self-reliant Africa.

President Paul Kagame addresses delegates at the opening ceremony of the inaugural International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali on Monday, May 19, 2025.

The president outlined three key pillars he said are vital for Africa's long-term peace and stability: ownership, governance, and cooperation.

Also speaking at the opening session was Moussa Faki Mahamat, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Chair of the ISCA Advisory Council.

The two-day forum at the Kigali Convention Centre brought together continental and global defence, intelligence, and security leaders to tackle urgent challenges and craft joint solutions.