In a significant development, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Governance, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA). This new international organization aims to foster dialogue, research, and collaboration to address the security challenges that have hindered development on the African continent.
The ISCA will focus on a range of critical issues, including terrorism, cybersecurity, identity and marginalization of populations, inter- and intra-state conflicts, and the implications of foreign military bases on the continent. Additionally, it will explore the operations of private military companies and the exploitation of Africa’s critical strategic minerals. With its headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda, the ISCA is well-placed to tackle these pressing concerns.
The organization’s Board of Directors comprises an impressive array of experienced professionals, including Clotilde Mbaranga Gasarabwe, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Security Services, and Lt. Gen. Balla Keita, former Force Commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic. Other notable members include Frederick Golooba-Mutebi, former Executive Director of the Makarere Institute for Social Research at Makerere University, and Dr. Richard Sezibera, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda.
ISCA recently held its inaugural international conference in Kigali, which was attended by a distinguished gathering of military generals, diplomats, scholars, and intelligence chiefs from around the world. The conference was opened by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who served as the Guest of Honour, while Moussa Faki, former Chairman of the African Union Commission, delivered the keynote address.
During the conference, panelists discussed a range of topics, including the implications of foreign military bases for African sovereignty, strengthening Africa’s bargaining power in the global order, and countering the growing threats of terrorism. Professor Moghalu, who was a panelist on the critical raw material and supply chain warfare panel, emphasized that Africa must take control of its critical minerals to demand a place at the global table. “Nobody will give us a place we haven’t earned, simply out of human kindness or any sense of justice,” he stated.
The conference also featured a range of other prominent speakers, including Dr. Donald Kaberuka, former President of the African Development Bank, Natalie Delapalme, Chief Executive Officer of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of La Francophonie. With its impressive lineup of speakers and attendees, the ISCA conference has set the stage for a new era of cooperation and collaboration on African security issues. As the continent continues to navigate the complexities of global geopolitics, the ISCA is poised to play a vital role in shaping the future of African security and development.
