Gen Mubarakh Urges African Military Colleges to Embrace Technology and Collaboration

The Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), General MK Mubarakh, on November 12, 2025, has called on African military colleges to strengthen collaboration, foster innovation, and integrate technology in their training systems to effectively respond to the continent’s evolving security challenges.

Gen Mubarakh made the remarks while officially closing the 19th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC) of African Command and Staff Colleges, held in Kigali under the theme “The Future of African Military Training and Education: Bridging the Digital Divide.”

The three-day conference brought together senior military educators and leaders from 24 African countries, including representatives of the African Union, to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation and standardising training across the continent’s command and staff colleges.

In his closing address, Gen Mubarakh emphasised that the future of Africa’s military education depends on “collaboration, innovation, and technology integration to enhance interoperability and leadership in addressing continental security challenges.”

He highlighted that discussions during the conference underscored the critical need to embed digital tools and technologies in military training to improve coordination, readiness, and leadership within multinational joint operations.

“Our deliberations have shown that we must embrace technology and innovation while nurturing leaders capable of commanding across diverse contexts,” Gen Mubarakh said. “We must ensure that the resolutions and frameworks adopted here are implemented in our respective institutions.”

The conference also focused on developing frameworks for student and staff exchange programmes and strengthening harmonisation and standardisation across African military colleges to align with ACoC’s mission of promoting a unified and effective military education system on the continent.

At the closing ceremony, Rwanda handed over the ACoC chairmanship to the United Republic of Tanzania, marking the end of its one-year leadership term. Maj Gen Stephen Mnkande, Commandant of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force Command and Staff College, pledged to build on Rwanda’s achievements by promoting knowledge sharing and sustained collaboration.

Reflecting on Rwanda’s tenure, Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College, said the country’s leadership of ACoC was driven by the goal of enhancing unity and harmonisation among African military institutions.

“We have worked diligently to foster dialogue and share best practices, knowing that our shared security challenges require shared solutions and an interoperable African Standby Force,” Brig Gen Nyamvumba said.

Following the closing session, delegates visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The ACoC, established to promote cooperation and the exchange of military education experiences among African nations, continues to serve as a key platform for building a capable, united, and technologically empowered African defence network.