FORGING PARTNERSHIPS FOR AFRICA’S FUTURE Volume 1 | Issue 4 | April 2011

AFRICA

Center for Strategic Studies - Newsletter

Next Generation of African 

Security Sector 

Leaders Graduate

After four weeks of rigorous classroom and field studies 

work, 40 officers representing 25 African nations graduated 

March 25 from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ 

2011 Next Generation of African Security Sector Leaders 

Course at the Sheraton Hotel Crystal City in Arlington, 

Virginia.

Conducted in English and French, the course provided the 

participants—mid-level African officers, mostly majors and 

lieutenant colonels in the army, police, and gendarmerie—

with practical and effective tools upon which they could 

draw to contribute to the enhancement of their nations’ 

security and development. The officers deepened their 

knowledge about professionalism, ethics, and leadership 

in the security sector. 

The course featured lectures by experts in the military, 

security, government, and civil society sectors. There were 

extensive reading assignments, homework, and writing 

a comprehensive paper that the officers then defended 

orally in small group sessions.

Read More | View Video | View Photos

Africa Center Director Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.), left; Professor 

Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Academic Chair of Civil-Military Relations, center; 

and Associate Dean John Kelly, Ph.D. right; present graduation certificates 

to course participants.

Africa Center Announces 

New Research Paper

The latest research paper 

from the Africa Center entitled 

“Africa’s Evolving Infosystems: 

A Pathway to Security and 

Stability” documents the growing 

role that information technologies 

are playing in reshaping statesociety relations in Africa, seen 

most dramatically in the popular 

protests in North Africa.

Download Paper

Africa Center Loses 

Colleague and Friend 

The Africa Center lost a trusted colleague and good friend 

March 28 with the passing of Vice Admiral Robert T. 

Moeller, U.S. Navy (ret.). Admiral Mueller had served as a 

Senior Fellow for Defense Policy at the Africa Center since 

September 2010 following his retirement from active military 

duty.

Read More

Vice Admiral Robert T. Moeller, U.S. Navy (ret.)
ACSS Community News

Burundi

Colonel Adolphe Manirakiza has been 

appointed Vice President of the National 

Council of Communications by President 

Pierre Nkurunziza. Colonel Manirakiza recently returned 

from Somalia where he served as Burundi’s Information 

Officer and briefly attended the Inter-Army Command and 

Staff College prior to his appointment. He participated in 

the Next Generation of African Military Leaders Course in 

2005 and the Community Leadership Conference in both 

2007 and 2008 in his capacity as Secretary General of the 

Burundi Chapter.

Cameroon

Colonel Hubert Onana is the new Air 

Defense Attaché at the Cameroon Embassy 

in Washington, D.C. He will be serving in this 

capacity for three years. Prior to this position he served as an 

instructor at the National Defense Staff College in Yaoundé. 

Colonel Onana participated in the Next Generation of 

African Security Sector Leaders Seminar in 2009.

Captain Emmanuel Belinga Ella was initially 

commissioned in the Military Staff of the Navy in Yaoundé, 

but is now part of the personal staff of the President of the 

Republic (Department of Military Affairs). He has served 

in this capacity since June 2009. He was promoted to the 

rank of Commander as of January 1, 2011. Commander 

Ella participated in Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea 

Workshop in March of 2006 and The Maritime Security 

Ministerial Symposium in November 2006.

Comoros

Mr. Ousseine Abdou now serves as the 

Technical Advisor for the AIDS Global Fund 

Next Generation Course 

Participants Visit Gettysburg 

and U.S. Army War College 

The 40 participants attending this year’s Africa Center 

for Strategic Studies’ Next Generation of African Security 

Sector Leaders Course traveled to Pennsylvania on March 

22 to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park and U.S. 

Army War College at Carlisle Barracks.

Read More | View Photos

Africa Center Hosts American 

University Students 

Africa Center faculty and staff served as hosts March 24 

for a group of American University international relations 

students and several International and Counter-Terrorism 

African fellows who are attending National Defense 

University in Washington, D.C.

The students and fellows were invited to meet together so 

they could learn more about the Africa Center and U.S. 

Africa Command as well as meet in a joint forum to discuss 

African security issues. Africa Center public affairs outreach 

specialist Michelle Cavalcanti, who organized the visit, said 

it proved beneficial in having the NDU fellows present since 

it offered the American University students perspectives on 

different security challenges from all regions of Africa.

Read More | View Photos

French-speaking participants attending the Next Generation Course take a 

moment for a group photo in front of one of the many monuments honoring the 

soldiers who fought at Gettysburg on July 1-3, 1863

U.S. Embassy in Malawi and 

Africa Center Assist U.S. 

Army Civil Affairs Unit

A team for the U.S. Army’s 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion visited 

the Malawi community March 17 

to discuss its civil affairs mission 

and program objectives in 

Malawi, which include populace 

and resource control, foreign 

humanitarian assistance, civil 

information management, nation 

assistance and support to civil 

administration.

Read More

Africa Center Deputy Director, Michael Garrison welcomes the American 

University students and their instructor.
division of the National Board for the Fight against AIDS at 

the Ministry of Health. He previously served as the Director 

in charge of the Fight Against Diseases at the National 

Board of Health, a part of the Ministry of Health. Mr. Abdou 

participated in the Health and Security Seminar in 2009 and 

is an active member of the Comoros Chapter.

Lieutenant Colonel Adinane Abdourahamane has been 

promoted to the rank of Colonel. He remains Corps Chief of 

the National Army of Development. Colonel Abdourahamane 

attended the Senior Leaders Seminar in 2009.

Lieutenant Colonel Moustoifa Mohamed Anrifi has been 

promoted to the rank of Colonel. He remains a Regional 

Commander of the National Army of Development. Colonel 

Anrifi attended the Senior Leaders Seminar in 2004.

Lieutenant Colonel Moissuli Djamala-Diny has been 

promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Commander 

of the newly created Coast Guard. Colonel Djamala-Diny 

previously served as an Advisor to the Chief of Staff at the 

Ministry of Defense. He attended the Next Generation of 

African Military Leaders Course in 2005.

His Excellency, Minister Inzouddine Hodhoaer has been 

appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, 

Communication, and New Technologies of Information 

Promotion. He previously served as the Minister of Health, 

Solidarity, and Gender. Minister Hodhoaer attended the 

Senior Leaders Seminar in 2007 and provided opening 

remarks for the 2011 TOPS Symposium in Moroni.

Democratic Republic of the 

Congo 

Mr. Francis Buhendwa Rushinga has 

been serving as Deputy Legislative Advisor 

with D.A.I. (Development Alternatives, Inc.) since January 

2010. D.A.I. is currently leading a USAID project on Good 

Governance in the DRC. Mr. Rushinga participated in the 

Managing Security Resources Seminar in 2009.

Ghana

Brigadier General Kwame Opong-Kyekyeku

(ret.) of the Ghana Armed Forces recently 

received the Legion of Merit Award from the 

U.S. Army for his exceptional meritorious service as the 

Defense Attaché to the U.S. General Opong-Kyekyeku 

was a participant at the African Defense Attaché Course 

in November 2005 and he has contributed to many other 

programs. General Opong-Kyekyeku is an active member 

of the Ghana Community Chapter. 

Guinea-Conakry 

Commissioner General Jean-Félix Sockat 

was promoted from Colonel – Major to 

General and assumed a new position at the 

President’s headquarters to oversee responsibilities of 

the Director of Protocol upon his completion of the Senior 

Leaders Seminar in 2008. In October 2010, he took a 

new position as Director of Procurement at the Ministry of 

Economy. In this capacity, he is in charge of the regulation 

of procurements. General Sokat is also an active member 

of the Guinea Chapter leadership. 

Mali

Mr. Abdul Kader Ba has been promoted 

to Secretary General of the Economic and 

Cultural Council of Mali. The Economic 

Council is one of seven institutions in Mali which includes 

elected officials and representatives of civil society. The 

Council is consulted to advise on all legal bills. Mr. Ba 

participated in the 2004 Senior Leaders Seminar. 

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the 

passing of Dr. General Togola Fanta Kanipo. Formerly 

a Colonel, General Konipo had recently been promoted 

to the rank of General and was named professor at the 

Medical School of Bamako University. General Konipo 

was a wonderful friend of the Africa Center and an active 

member of the Community Chapter in Mali.

Nigeria

Lieutenant Colonel Lasisi Adejare 

Adegboye has been promoted to Deputy 

Director of Administration for the Nigerian Army School 

of Infantry. He is currently finishing his Masters degree in 

Public Administration from Ahmadou Bello University Zaria, 

Nigeria. Colonel Adegboye participated in the 2006 iteration 

of the Next Generation of African Military Leaders Course. 

Wing Commander Emmanuel John Udenyi has been 

promoted to Group Captain in the Nigerian Air Force. Group 

Captain Udenyi participated in the 2006 Next Generation of 

African Military Leaders Program. 

Major General Godwin George Umo, a participant in the 

2007 Senior Leaders Seminar shares that he is currently 

taking a year-long course in Executive Management at the 

Administrative Staff College of Nigeria. 

Brigadier General Shehu Ahmed Yusuf has been appointed 

Brigade Commander in Calabar Cross River State. General 

Yusuf participated in the 2006 ECOWAS Training Needs 

Analysis Workshop, and is an active member and key 

organizer of the ACSS Community Chapter in Nigeria. 

Commander Alexander Dalin Bingel has been promoted 

to the rank of Captain (Navy). Captain Bingel participated 

in the 2008 Next Generation of African Military Leaders 

Course. 

Colonel Cecil Osolease Esekhaigbe has been promoted 

to Major General. General Esekhaigbe currently serves 

as the Defence Advisor to the Nigeria High Commission 

in London. General Esekhaigbe participated in the Africa’s 

Center’s first program, the 1999 Senior Leaders Seminar.
Africa Center for Strategic Studies

National Defense University

300 5th Avenue, Building 62

Fort Lesley J. McNair

Washington, DC 20319-5066

Website: www.AfricaCenter.org

Telephone: +1 202 685 7300

Director

Ambassador (ret.) William M. Bellamy

Deputy Director

COL(R) Michael Garrision, U.S. Army

Academic Dean

Monde Muyangwa, Ph. D.

Chief of Staff

Danielle Buchanan

Tanzania

Ambassador Dr. Mohammed O. Maundi has 

been appointed Director of the MozambiqueTanzania Centre for Foreign Relations, a 

government institution that trains nationals of Tanzania, 

Mozambique, and other African countries in the fields of 

international relations and diplomacy. He previously served 

as the Tanzanian Ambassador to Ethiopia. Dr. Maundi 

attended the Senior Leader Seminar in 2003.

Republic of the Congo

Doctor-Captain Rita Marianne Ondaye 

Nee Etoka has been promoted to the rank 

of Doctor Commander. She participated in 

the Health and Security Seminar in 2009 and is an avid 

supporter of Community Chapter events in the Congo.

Commander Felicien Mokobo has been attending the 

National Gendarmerie Academy in Brazzaville. Since 

he attended the Next Generation of African Security 

Sector Leaders in 2010, he has also been promoted 

in rank.

Senegal

Lieutenant Colonel Mamadou Toure has 

been appointed Coordinator of the Civilian 

Observors of Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed 

Commssion. This Commission is a pluridisciplinary team 

(political affairs, rule of law, human rights, gender, socioeconomic affairs, security, and media) posted in Yaounde, 

Calabar and Dakar. The Commission supports the peacebuilding process between the two parties under the UN 

Office West Africa (UNOWA) umbrella. Colonel Toure 

participated in the 2009 Next Generation of African Military 

Leaders Course. 

Chef d’escadron Alioune Gueye has been promoted to 

Lieutenant Colonel. Colonel Gueye has participated in a 

number of ACSS events, including the 2008 counterterrorism 

workshop, the 2009 Civil Military Roundtable. He was 

also an observer during the 2009 Combating Narcotics 

Trafficking in West Africa workshop.

Upcoming Events

• Developing Comprehensive Solutions to the 

Challenges of Radicalization

Dakar, Senegal - April 2011

• Introduction to African Security Issues

Washington, DC - April 2011

• African Air Chiefs Conference

East Africa - April 2011

• Topical Outreach Program Series (TOPS)

West & Southern Africa - April/May 2011

• Senior Leaders Seminar

Washington, DC - June 2011

Please contact our Registrar’s Office should you have 

a question about a particular program.