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Dear Africa Center Alumni,
As we commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Africa Center, I am continually struck by the tremendous impact our Alumni have in advancing our mission. The alumni network created over the course of 25 years is truly the strength of the Africa Center. Africa Center alumni occupy senior leadership positions in many countries across the continent and the breadth of alumni across security sector institutions enhances our common values.
The theme of this newsletter is Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM). In conflict areas, government security force operations against violent extremists and terrorists must take extra care to protect civilians, refrain from excessive force, and minimize collateral damage. Without CHM, government responses may exacerbate the underlying causes of violent extremist organization recruitment and persistence.
Africa Center alumni serve in influential leadership positions across the continent. In fact, when we counted last year, at least 26 alumni were sitting Service Chiefs or Chiefs of Defense; quite an impressive number. When you factor in former office holders, the Africa Center counts among its alumni 7 presidents, 2 prime ministers, 28 Ministers of Defense, 15 National Security Advisors, 16 Chiefs of Defense, more than 100 Ambassadors, and more than 170 members of parliament. With this wealth of talent and experience, there is an outsized role our Alumni can play in strengthening the procedures, oversight, and accountability necessary to mitigate and respond to civilian harm. Together we can make a difference in advancing CHM as a shared priority.
Respectfully yours,
Colonel (retired) Daniel L. Hampton
Acting Director