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This past June, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies proudly welcomed the 2025 Emerging Security Sector Leaders (ESSL) cohort to Washington, D.C., for its flagship leadership development program. Designed to strengthen the professional capacity of the continent’s next generation of security sector leaders, the program offered an immersive 13-day experience that combined academic learning, peer exchange, and practical scenario-based exercises.
This year’s cohort featured 58 participants from 34 African countries, alongside representatives from four multinational organizations: the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Centre des Hautes Études de Défense et de Sécurité (CHEDS). In addition, seven Africa Center alumni were selected through a competitive nomination process to return and participate as part of the 2025 cohort.
Held at Lincoln Hall on the campus of the National Defense University (NDU), the program began with a tour of NDU’s five colleges, offering participants insights into the broader U.S. national security education landscape. Beyond the classroom, the cohort had the opportunity to explore Washington’s rich cultural and historical sites, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the city’s iconic national monuments. On a lighter note, the group helped the hometown Washington Nationals break an 11-game losing streak during a Juneteenth outing to Nationals Park—an unexpected highlight for many!
A Demanding and Dynamic Curriculum
The ESSL curriculum is intentionally rigorous and designed to challenge participants to think critically about security sector strategies and governance in Africa. The program opened with foundational discussions on critical thinking, strategic leadership, mega trends, and the evolving African security landscape, before progressing through three thematic modules:
- Analyzing Africa’s Security Threats
- National Responses to Security Challenges
- Regional and International Responses to Security Challenges
Each week culminated in a tabletop exercise set in the fictional country of Webonia, where participants assumed advisory roles to the national leadership on how to design and implement effective security sector reforms. These exercises encouraged the integration of policy, strategy, and leadership principles and were met with strong engagement and thoughtful recommendations presented before expert panels.
Building Community, One Leader at a Time
More than just a training course, the ESSL program fosters a strong sense of community among military and civilian security sector professionals from across the continent. Through interactive plenary sessions, small group work, and informal networking, participants built enduring relationships and exchanged practical insights drawn from their diverse institutional backgrounds. Each also learned about the Africa Center community and chapter structures that exist in their countries, identifying opportunities to contribute to ongoing efforts to contribute to the advancement of national security solutions and to enhance U.S.-Africa relations upon their return home.
To these ends, the program also included an evening reception at Roosevelt Hall, where participants were warmly welcomed by local African embassy officials, U.S. Government representatives, and Africa Center partners.
Looking Ahead
The Africa Center celebrates the success of the 2025 ESSL cohort and looks forward to formally integrating them into its growing alumni community. Upcoming alumni events will offer opportunities for continued dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. Alumni interested in engaging the 2025 cohort are encouraged to contact the Community, Alumni, Partnerships, and Engagement (CAPE) team.
To learn more about the academic content of the ESSL program, including access to recorded plenary sessions, click here.