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The Africa Center for Strategic Studies (Africa Center) held its annual Emerging Security Sector Leaders seminar (ESSL) in June 2024 at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. The program was conducted in three languages: English, Portuguese, and French. Fifty-five participants were in attendance representing 31 countries and four African regional organizations (African Union, East African Community, Economic Community of West African States, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development). In addition, six Africa Center alumni chapter-nominated individuals received special invitations to attend the seminar. They represented the Africa Center alumni chapters in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, and Tanzania.
ESSL is a program designed for rising professionals, both military and civilian, who are working in the security sector and have leadership potential. During the program, attendees had the opportunity to hear from many distinguished Africa Center alumni, including: General Birame Diop, Minister of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Senegal; Ambassador Dr. Monica Juma, National Security Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kenya; Ambassador Fatima Mohammed, Head of the Mission of the African Union to the United Nations; Ambassador Major General Mpho Mophuting, at the time the Resident Ambassador in Botswana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and now the Ambassador of Botswana to the United States; and Mr. Carlos Monteiro Reis, Head of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Program Office in Rabat.
In addition to a robust academic program, the participants had the opportunity to visit DC monuments and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. They also celebrated Juneteenth with a picnic at the National Defense University followed by a visit to the Audi Field to watch a professional football (soccer) match.
As part of the celebration of the Africa Center’s 25th anniversary, the participants attended a reception at the National War College where they had the opportunity to meet the founding director of the Africa Center, Dr. Nancy Walker, as well as senior United States government officials including the Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Amanda Dory, the President of the National Defense University, Lieutenant General Michael Plehn, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, Ms. Maureen Farrell, to name a few.
Pictured here: Members of the Africa Center Community, Alumni, Partnership, and Engagement (CAPE) team along with Africa Center alumni chapter-nominated members (from left to right): Ms. Victoria Sumner (Africa Center), Mr. Ilias el Ghormli (Africa Center), Dr. Oswald Masebo (Tanzania), Lt. Col. Dr. Emmanuel Kondoltiony (Kenya), Ms. Marie Esther Kebe Fian (Cote d’Ivoire), Dr. Carolyn Haggis (Africa Center), Dr. Moses Limuwa (Malawi), Mr. Armel Outchoumare (Benin), Ms. Elodie Moana Raseta (Madagascar), Mr. Claude Toze (Africa Center), Ms. Grace Tovkach (Africa Center), Ms. Luisa Chau (Africa Center).