President Paul Kagame has issued a strong call for a shift in the global approach to African peace and security, urging that Africa must no longer be a passive recipient of externally driven security solutions.
Speaking at the opening of the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA2025), Kagame emphasized the urgency of African ownership in matters that shape the continent’s future.
“Africa’s future, particularly in matters of peace and security, cannot be outsourced,” Kagame declared.
“For far too long our security has been treated as a burden to be managed by others with minimal input from us, and often without the benefit of our context or consent.
This approach has failed to deliver both for Africa and for the world.”
Positioning the conference as more than just another dialogue forum, Kagame described it as “a deliberate effort to change both the narrative and the substance of how Africa engages with global security debates.”
He underscored the importance of moving beyond token participation in international forums and called for Africa to assume its rightful place “not from the margins, but as a credible and capable partner.”
ISCA2025 brings together policymakers, security experts, and heads of state from across the continent and beyond, to rethink and reshape Africa’s security architecture.
The conference aims to promote African agency in global peace and security discourse, focusing on sustainable, locally anchored solutions.
President Kagame’s remarks are expected to set the tone for high-level discussions throughout the summit, reinforcing Rwanda’s consistent advocacy for self-reliance, continental unity, and responsible global engagement.
