{{The National Security Symposium ends with a call to go for homegrown solutions and defend national interests.}}
The Minister of Defence, Hon Gen James Kabarebe closed on 9 May 2014 the three day Security Symposium that was organized by RDF Command and Staff College.
Hon Minister Kabarebe and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen P Nyamvumba attended the 3 day Symposium held in Auditorium of RDF Command and Staff College at Nyakinama, Musanze District.
The symposium with the theme: “Contemporary Security Challenges: The African Perspective” brought together senior government and military officials, researchers, academicians and media practitioners.
While officially closing the National Security Symposium, Hon Gen James Kabarebe said that participants deliberated on security and development challenges that African countries are facing and said that the forum discussed remedies to those challenges.
Minister Kabarebe said that the struggle for African emancipation is a continued process and was optimistic that this will be achieved because Africans know their interests.
Three topics were discussed on the last day. These include “Strategic communication in the Global policy and practice arena: Challenges and prospects” by Andrew Mwenda as main speaker and Dr Christopher Kayumba and Dr Aggee Shyaka as discussants.
The second topic was: “Africa and the influence of international governance institutions” presented by Prof Anastase Shyaka as speaker and Mr Gasamagera Wellars and Dr Usta Kayitesi as discussants.
The last topic was “The use and abuse of intelligence: the interface between strategy and intelligence” by Col Francis Mutiganda as main speaker with Mr Andrew Mwenda and Prof Charles Gasarasi as discussants.
When analyzing the outcomes from the Symposium Prof Anastase Shyaka, CEO of Rwanda Governance Board said that the discussions enlighten participants that Security is not the monopoly of Police and Army and Security Organs.
Other government institutions including Non Government Organisations, Media, Academicians and researchers also have their role to play, he said.
The RDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Nzabamwita said that the Symposium analyzed the roots causes of conflicts in Africa. The participants also talked about terrorism and other threats on regional stability, he said.
Gen Nzabamwita said that the Symposium found that Homegrown Solutions can help African countries to get rid of many problems they are facing either economically or politically.
It was also found that African Countries should build strong institutions and economies that can help them to stand against influence from outside.
Brig Gen Nzabamwita said that The Symposium also analyzed how Media are important actors in building the security when they do their work taking into consideration advancement of national interests.
The purpose of the National Security Symposium was to provide an opportunity to students of Senior Command and Staff Course two to interact with practitioners and subject matter experts in a wide range of areas which cover contemporary national, regional and international security issues.
MOD
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