Rwanda Hosts 19th African Conference of Commandants to Bridge Digital Divide in Military Training

The 19th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC) of African Command and Staff Colleges opened on November 10, 2025, in Kigali, bringing together senior military educators and strategists from across the continent to chart the future of African military training and education under the theme, “The Future of African Military Training and Education: Bridging the Digital Divide.”

The three-day conference gathers representatives from 24 African countries, along with officials from the African Union, to discuss how innovation, digital transformation, and collaboration can strengthen Africa’s defence education systems and enhance the readiness of its armed forces.

Opening the conference, Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Juvenal Marizamunda, underscored the need for well-trained, digitally skilled, and ethically grounded officers capable of navigating Africa’s complex and evolving security landscape.

“The threats facing Africa are multifaceted, from terrorism and cyber warfare to illegal migration, transnational crime, and climate-related insecurity,” Marizamunda said. “Addressing these requires a generation of officers who are not only tactically proficient but also digitally literate, ethically grounded, and strategically agile. This is the essence of professional military education in the 21st century.”

He added that Africa’s security institutions must continuously adapt, innovate, and collaborate to build resilience in the face of emerging challenges. Marizamunda praised the ACoC for fostering unity among command and staff colleges, helping align military education standards, and reinforcing the continent’s security cooperation under the African Union and the African Standby Force frameworks.

Brigadier General Andrew Nyamvumba, Commandant of the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College, highlighted that the conference is not merely a meeting but a strategic forum for intellectual exchange and regional defence cooperation.

“This forum is a convergence of Africa’s intellectual and professional military leadership,” Brig Gen Nyamvumba said. “It is where ideas are exchanged, doctrines refined, and partnerships strengthened in pursuit of interoperable Regional and African Standby Forces for a more secure, resilient, and self-reliant Africa.”

Over the course of the conference, delegates will examine key issues shaping modern military education, including curriculum standardisation, technology integration, exchange programmes, and the use of digital learning platforms.

According to organisers, the discussions aim to produce actionable recommendations that will equip future commanders and staff officers to lead multinational joint operations effectively and respond to both traditional and emerging security threats across the continent.