PNYX - Africa Security Symposium 2024

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Conference Chair

Hon. Motuma Mekassa
Former Ethiopian Minister of Defence
ASEC2024 CONFERENCE CHAIR

Honourable Motuma Mekassa served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 2011 to 2021. He currently serves as Advisor to the Ministry of Water and Energy, with the rank of State Minister, having previously served as National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister. Hon. Motuma has also served Ethiopia's Minister of National Defense, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity. Formerly, he has served as a leader of different government sectors at the regional level and as junior expert, expert and senior expert of the planning and programming department. In addition, Hon. Motuma has served as a chair-person and as a member of boards in different institutions at regional & federal level and has organized workshops, led teams of government experts and planners, community leaders, promoters and technicians in knowledge exchange and emergency response areas.

Keynote Speakers

H.E. Amb. Bankole Adeoye
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security (PAPS)
African Union Commission (AUC)

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye is a Pan-African Career Diplomat with over 3 and half decades of experience. A strong advocate of Africa’s regional integration and inclusive partnerships, Amb. Adeoye builds synergy across Africa for good governance, durable champions the peace, security and sustainable development. Amb. Adeoye assumed office as the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security on 15th March 2021, having previously served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA, and Ambassador to Ethiopia with concurrent accreditation to Djibouti from 2017 to 2020. From 2007 to 2015 on secondment to NEPAD Agency HQ, he held the strategic positions of Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive Officer, Coordinator of Partnerships & External Relations, and as Director of Corporate Services. Also, Bankole Adeoye served as Director (Second UN) in the International Organizations Department of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Overall, his wealth of diplomatic experience spanned postings to Cairo (Egypt); Brasília (Brazil); Pretoria & Midrand in NEPAD HQ (South Africa) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Ambassador Adeoye’s core areas of specialization include the nexus between good governance, peace, security and sustainable development. He is an avid promoter of concerted actions for the implementation of the African Peace & Security Architecture (APSA) and African Governance Architecture (AGA) as well as the APRM. Bankole Adeoye is a generative force for inspiring change in Africa to actualize the AU Agenda 2063 - the Africa We Want, and the shared values of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. He is a proponent of rights-based approach to enshrine peace and stability, premised on African Solutions to African Problems.

Maj. Gen. Teshome Gemechu
Director of International Relations & Military Cooperation
Ethiopian Ministry of Defense (ENDF)

Amb. William A. Awinador-Kanyirige
Senior Adviser - Governance & Peacebuilding
African Union Commission (AUC)

Ambassador William Awinador-Kanyirige is the Senior Adviser, Governance & Peacebuilding in the Office of the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security. He was Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA (July 2017/May2018); High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria; and concurrently accredited to the Republic of Cameroon and ECOWAS (September 2014 to June 2017). He also served in various capacities at both the Foreign Ministry (notably as Chief of Protocol, Director Africa & AU, Chef de Cabinet on two occasions to two different Ministers) and posted to a number of diplomatic missions abroad, including, a secondment to ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, as Chief of Staff (2002-2008). He was a Member of the Executive Board of the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), 2009 - 2014; and the Bureau of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development in 2011/12 as a Vice Chairman. He is currently a Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practitioners, Nigeria; Executive Council Member, Council on Foreign Relations, Ghana; and serves on various boards.

Workshop Hosts

Col Aristide Anguilet
Defence Attaché & Dean to Ethiopia
Embassy of Gabon; Ethiopia

Colonel Aristide Anguilet, born February 7th 1972 in Port-Gentil, Gabon, joined the nation’s Army in June 1994. Col Anguilet has served as the Defence Attaché to Ethiopia and the African Union since December 2021. He is married with five children.

Col Khalid Bekri
Military Attaché & Dean to African Attachés
Embassy of Morocco; Ethiopia

Speakers

Michelle Nxumalo (Panel Chair)
Marketing Manager
DCD Protected Mobility

Michelle Nxumalo has over 15 years’ experience in the Aerospace and Defence sector. She was recently appointed as the youngest Acting Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD). She is currently serving as the Marketing Manager for DCD Protected Mobility. Prior to her appointment, she was the Exhibition Director for Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD). In 2018, she was part of the founders of the South African Women in Defence (SAWID). Michelle is a member of the Drone Council of South Africa and a board member of AAD 2024. Michelle has worked with more than 70 countries and has travelled to 25 countries. Michelle holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree specialising in Strategy and Trade in Africa. Her thesis was on the integrated approach towards boosting intra – African trade focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Maj. Gen. Elias Mutota
Deputy Inspector General - Operations
Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL)

Major General Elias Mutota is the Deputy Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force responsible for Operations. He was appointed to the rank of Major General on 1st November 2022, replacing the now Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo. He joined the Namibian Police Force in 1996, a highly driven leader with over 27 years of experience in leading and managing diverse teams in multiple disciplines, and well exposed in law enforcement at the international, continental and regional levels. Assigned as the Deputy Head of the Very Important Persons Directorate and Chief of Presidential Security to the Former President H.E. Hifikepunye Pohomba, Founding President H.E Dr Sam Nuyoma, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister from 2005-2011. He served as Police Attache to the Republic of South Africa and cross accredited to Republic of Botswana, Mozambique, kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho. From 2018-2022 Maj. Gen. Mutota was appointed as the Head of Border and Infrastructure Directorate and on the 1st of November 2022 appointed as the Deputy Inspector General responsible for Operations to date.

Dr. Michael Masiapato
Commissioner
BMA - Border Management Authority of South Africa

Dr. Mike Masiapato, spent two decades in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster. His experience spans through the police, defence intelligence, civilian intelligence structures and the Financial Intelligence Centre. He holds two Doctoral degrees, one being of literature & philosophy from University of Johannesburg, the other being Doctor of philosophy from University of Witwatersrand. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Management from the University of Pretoria. His honours degree in Public Administration is from the University of South Africa, whilst his junior degree is from the University of Venda. He also completed the Executive National Security Programme (ENSP) from the South African National Defence College.

Maj Gen Gold Uhuoma Chibuisi
Senior Research Fellow - Army Resource Center
Nigerian Army; Nigeria Armed Forces

Major General Gold Uhuoma Chibuisi is a seasoned Army General from the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. He is a member of 40th Regular Course from the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna. He has attended numerous courses and decorated with several honours and awards; amongst which are Distinguished Service Star, passed staff course (Dagger), Fellow National Defence University (China), Field Command Medal and Field Command Medal of Honour. He is currently a Senior Research Fellow in the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja – Nigeria. Previous appointments held in his illustrious career include; Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji Nigeria, Commander 1 Division Garrison Kaduna, Commander 19 Brigade Baga (in the North East of Nigeria), General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army in Ibadan South West Nigeria, and Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Njamena Chad. His posting before his appointment as Senior Resource Fellow was Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, where he contributed creditably towards the counter insurgency efforts in North East Nigeria.

Col Youssouf Hassane Saleh
Chief J1
Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF)

Col Youssouf Hassane Saleh is a Senior officer of the Chad Air Force. Air Liaison Officer in 2019, he currently serves the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) as Head of Personal Service since 2023. Col Youssouf has completed several ISR missions for the benefit of the MNJTF, and holds the General Staff diploma.

Col (Ret.) Tom Menker (Panel Chair)
BD & Government Relations Rep
Air Tractor, Inc.

Colonel (Ret.) Tom Menker is a native of Dayton, Ohio and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from the US Air Force Academy in 1986 as a Distinguished Graduate. He holds a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; and a second Master’s degree from Marine Corps University, as a Distinguished Graduate. Tom is a graduate of the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting; Joint Forces Staff College; and Air War College. A command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the F-15C, T-37, T-6, and C-12, Tom served in key command and staff positions: Vice Wing Commander, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training; Director of Legislative Affairs, USJFCOM; and Fighter Squadron Commander. At the time of his retirement in 2014, he served as the Air Attaché US Embassy, Bogota, Colombia. His decorations include Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal; Aerial Achievement Medal. Tom has represented Air Tractor since 2014 and serves as the lead business development and government relations representative.

Maj Gen (Ret.) Greg Lengyel
Senior Partner
Leading-Edge Vortex LLC

Major General (Ret) Greg Lengyel was commissioned in 1985 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Texas A&M University, and served 33-years in the US Air Force. He has commanded at almost every level in the Air Force and joint special operations aviation communities, and has flown 4,000 hours in helicopters, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft. His military career highlights include serving as the Deputy Commander, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC); Commander, Special Operations Command Europe; Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy; Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing; and Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He is the only Air Force officer to be designated by the Secretary of the Army as an Honorary Member of the Psychological Operations Regiment, and he is a graduate of the US Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor program. He currently serves as Senior Partner at Leading-Edge Vortex LLC, a New Braunfels, Texas, based national security, defense, and management consulting firm, and is the Special Operations Advisor to Air Tractor for US Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch Program.

Brig Gen Jean Hilaire Lengoma Doudou

Gabon National Police Force

Brigadier General Jean Hilaire Lengoma Doudou was a contingent of the Promotion of 1995 from the Owendo Police School, Libreville/Gabon. He is specialized in Immigration, Documentary Fraud, Airport Security and Facilitation. Since then, he has advanced through the ranks from Officer Cadet to Brigadier General which he has held since 2021. His previously held functions include General Directorate of Documentation and Immigration; Office of the Director General; Duty officer at the Air & Borders Directorate; Head of Passport & Pass Department; Head of Refugee Protection Department; Head of Railway Service; Head of Departmental Antenna Cocobeach; Head of Antenna Department GAMIIA; Chel from Nyanga Regional Antenna; Directorate of Immigration Control; Judicial Investigation Police Headquarters (PJ) Investigator; Coordination Secretary at the Makokou Police Station; Libreville Police Headquarters (PPL); Director of Public Roads; and Directorate General of Logistics (DGL). Additionally, his experience covers Immigration, Documentary Fraud, Airport Security and Facilitation, respectively in Canada, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Gabon.

Col. Mohamed Nassim Boughlali
Aviation Planner,Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD)
African Union Commission (AUC)

Colonel Mohamed Nassim Boughlali occupies the position of Aviation Planner in the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) at the African Union Commission since November 2022. Col. Boughlali oversees strategic transport within the AU Commission, in particular the planning and conduct of technical and operational assessments. For AU peace support operations, he is in charge of tactical aviation and UAS in support of AU peace support operations. This includes pre-deployment negotiations and assessment, deployment, and air operations. Col. Boughlali has over 25 years' experience in military aviation.

Lt Gen Mohan Subramanian
Force Commander
UNMISS - UN Mission in South Sudan

Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian was commissioned into 104 Air Defence Regiment of the Corps of Army Air Defence of Indian Army on 14th June 1986. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Amaravathinagar, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Army War College, Mhow and Indian Institute of Public Administration, Delhi. In the rank of Colonel, he commanded an Air Defence Unit in the Desert Sector. As a Brigadier General, he commanded a Mountain Brigade and was Deputy General Officer Commanding of an Infantry Division, both in the Eastern theatre. As a Major General, he commanded the then India’s only Mountain Strike Division. In the three-star rank of Lieutenant General, he commanded Madhya Bharat Area (Central Military Region), India’s Defence Services Staff College at Wellington and is currently the Force Commander of the Multi National Peacekeeping Force in United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) from 19th August 2022. The General holds a Postgraduate Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies and two postgraduate diplomas in Public Administration and Human Rights. He holds Master of Philosophy qualifications in two disciplines, namely Social Sciences and Defence and Management Studies.

Dr. Fabian Loewenberg
Deputy Head of Mission
EUCAP Somalia

Dr. Fabian Loewenberg was appointed as Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) on 17 July 2020. Before joining EUCAP Somalia, Dr. Loewenberg served from 2016 to 2020 as Head of Rule of Law Component at the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine. In this role he led a large team of police and legal experts supporting Ukrainian reform endeavours within the criminal justice system with a specific focus on legislative reform and the fight against organized crime and corruption. Prior to this Dr. Loewenberg worked for the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo to support the transition of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo towards other EU-instruments and Kosovo ownership. From 2011 to 2015, Dr. Loewenberg served the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, Kabul, as the Head of Rule of Law Component and, prior to that role, held in the same mission the positions as Deputy Head of Rule of Law Component, Justice Expert and Mentor to the Attorney General’s Office (Anti-Corruption). Dr. Loewenberg is a fully qualified German lawyer with the qualification for public prosecution and judgeship. Holding a PhD degree in Law from the Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany, he has in-depth experience as a criminal defence lawyer and has been working as a specialist attorney in German administrative and constitutional law as well as European public law from 2002 to 2012. Dr. Fabian Loewenberg is seconded via the German Center for International Peace Operations, a leading German governmental agency providing experts worldwide in the area of peacekeeping on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office.

Paolo Siddi (Panel Chair)
Regional Sales Manager
RCS S.p.A.

Paolo Siddi is a Regional Sales Manager at RCS, one of the company's leaders in the international lawful interception and cyber intelligence markets. With more of 20 years of experience in the telecommunication industries, he joined RCS in the 2021 working with African, Middle East and Far East countries with focus on the data collection, data analysis, strategic and tactical investigation. He has senior skill in the business and market development, including bidding activities, commercial negotiations, Key-accounting and project management of complex international contracts.

David Mukuka Chileshe
Commissioner of Police
Zambia Police Service

Commissioner of Police for Western Division of the Zambia Police Service responsible for the day to day running of the Division. He joined the service in the year 1995 with 28 years of service in various managerial and top command roles. As a Legal Practitioner, he has served as a financial crimes investigator, senior state advocate in criminal and civil litigation under the Attorney General’s Chambers the office that is the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government of the Republic of Zambia. He served as Legal Counsel and Corporation Secretary for the National Road Fund Agency. He also served in peace keeping operations under the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). On 1st November 2022, he was appointed as Commissioner of Police for Central Division and later transferred to Western Division in the same capacity.

Dr. John Akoten
Director - Research, Planning & Public Awareness
Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA)

Dr. John Akoten serves as the Director for Research, Planning and Public Awareness Directorate which includes three departments, namely Research and Policy, Education and Public Awareness, and Planning and Quality Assurance. Previously, he was the Deputy Director for Research, Awareness, and Quality Assurance, after serving as the Acting Executive Director of the Authority for close to 4 years. John is an accomplished policy and research analyst in industrial matters in both private and public sectors spanning over 25 years at the Kenya’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, Institute of Policy Analysis and Research and now at the Anti-Counterfeit Authority where he is involved in IP enforcement, research and IP bilateral negotiations (Kenya and US; Kenya and India). He was instrumental in the preparation of the Private Sector Development Strategy (PSDS) as well as the preparation of the Investment Climate Action Plan (ICAP) including the review of business licensing regime to make them business friendly. Dr. Akoten received his PhD and MSc in Development Economics from GRIPS, Japan and BSc in Horticulture from Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, Kenya.

Mody Berethe
Police Commissioner
MONUSCO - UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

General Mody Berethe, MONUSCO Police Commissioner since 23 January 2021, brings a wealth of UN peace operations leadership experience and a proven track record of Security Sector Reforms expertise to this position. Between December 2016 and October 2019, he served as the Chief of Security Sector Reform in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). His other significant UN assignments included Security Sector Reform Officer in UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) and DPKO from 2011 to 2014; Police Reform Officer in Standing Police Capacity (SPC) and Police Officer at Mission Management Support Section of Police Division, UNHQ from April 2008 to July 2011. He also served as Technical Advisor on small arms and armed violence reduction issues at UNDP, Burundi between Sept 2005 and May 2007. As a Civilian Police Officer, he rendered valuable service in MONUC and ONUB from February 2003 to August 2005. At the national level, Mr Berethe has a solid police background in command positions for over a decade. He served as Director General of Peacekeeping School in Bamako, Mali from November 2019 until taking up the responsibilities of this present position. He was the head of the National Gendarmerie from January 2014 to October 2015. He held key leadership positions in National Gendarmerie of Mali from 1994 to 2003 as well.

Asst. Commissioner Teshale Mikore Aloto
Ag. Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ethiopian Federal Police Commission/Ethiopian Police University

Asst. Commissioner Teshale Mikore is an acting Vice President of the Ethiopian police University with 31 years of experience in policing in different professional and leadership positions in the Ethiopian Police Force and international (regional) police organizations. His areas of experiences include Commander-in-chief of the Zonal/ Provincial Police Department, Head of the Department of Economic Crime Investigation of Regional Police Commission, Head of the Regional Police College, Head of Quality Assurance and Relevance Center, Head of the Cadet School in the Ethiopian Police University (EPU) and I also served in the EASF/Eastern Africa Standby Force as the Head of Admin and Personnel from June 2018 to Sep 2020 for two years and three months. Currently he is working as Acting Academic Vice President for the EPU and Regional Police Trainer also.

Fidel Amakye Owusu (Panel Chair)
Strategic Advisor
unival group GmbH

As a Strategic Advisor at unival group GmbH and Geopolitical and Security Advisor at Riley Risk Inc., Mr. Owusu leverages open-source intelligence to conduct analysis and report on security risks. This role, combined with over a year as a Senior Conflicts Analyst at the Conflict Research Consortium for Africa, informs his work in assessing threats for client companies. Fidel also led DefSEC Analytics Africa Ltd., which offers strategic counsel in African security and defense, capitalizing on his strong academic background in International Affairs from the University of Ghana. With experience as a Special Assistant to a former Ghanaian Vice President and work in the President's office, he has honed skills essential for research, project management, and media relations. Fidel actively shares his geopolitical expertise through various thought leadership platforms, including articles and public speaking.

Cdr Abebe Muluneh Beyene
Director
IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP)

Commander Abebe Muluneh used to be a seasoned Police Officer in the Federal Democratic Republic of the Ethiopian Police Service between 1989 and 2006. He served at the Ethiopian Police College with different capacities… instructor, middle-level management, and senior management. He has been trained in policing in Ethiopia, Germany, the USA (FBI National Academy), and Turkey. He has been awarded BA Degree in Political Science and International Relation (PSIR) from Addis Ababa University (AAU), MA degree in International Relations (AAU), MA Degree in Managing Peace and Security in Africa (AAU), and Post Graduate Diploma on Peace and Security in Africa (Uppsala, Sweden). Since February 2006, he Joined IGAD as (1) Senior training coordinator to counter-terrorism and (2) Director of IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP), which is responsible for (a) Counter-Terrorism; (b) Maritime Security, (c) Containment of Transnational Organized Crime and (d) Security Institutions Capacity Building (3) Since 30th June 2022, he is accredited as IGAD Head of Mission to Ethiopia.

Daniel Angel Damjanovic
Head of Branch - Regional Counter Terrorism Node for Africa
INTERPOL

Daniel has performed the role of the Head of Interpol Regional Counter Terrorism Node for Africa since 2019. He is based at Interpol Regional Bureau for East Africa in Nairobi. He is a former member of the Australian Federal Police, working as a criminal intelligence specialist across different crime areas, including counter terrorism. He holds Masters in Leadership (policing and security), Postgraduate Diploma in International Studies and Bachelor degree in Criminology.

Maj Gen Ibrahim Michael Mhona
Chiefs of Operations & Training
Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF)

Major General Ibrahim Mhona is the current Chief of Operations and Training in the Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF), a position he has held since September 2023. He was born in 1968 and enrolled in the TPDF in 1989. He underwent all officers’ line courses specialised in Artillery. Journey to his general-ship started back in 1995 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant within the TPDF. This was followed with a series of promotions in all structured TPDF substantive ranks to the rank of Major General in June 2020. On his line of duty, he was appointed and held several appointments including Deputy Regimental Commander, Directing Staff at Tanzania Command and Staff College, Chief Instructor at Tanzania School of Artillery, Senior Directing Staff (Land Forces) in Tanzania National Defence College, The Commandant of Tanzania Command and Staff College, The Commandant Tanzania Military Academy as well as the Commandant Tanzania National Defence College. He holds a Diploma in Security Studies, Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, and Masters in International Cooperation & Development Relations.

Mohamed Amine Hansali
General Controller/Liaison Officer,Permanent Mission of Morocco to the AU
Morocco General Directorate for National Security (DGSN)

Mohamed Amine Hansali, 44 years old, is a General Controller, currently, he serves as Liaison Officer of the DGSN in the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco and African Union, he has been appointed to this position in Addis Ababa since 01/04/2024. Mohamed has spent almost 20 years of service with the DGSN in the city of Rabat, during which he has held several positions of responsibility. In his free time, Mohamed likes playing basketball with friends and enjoying traveling with family.

Maj Gen William K K Shume
Deputy Vice Chancellor Research Innovation & Security Studies
Kenya National Defence University

Maj Gen William Kitsao Karisa Shume is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Research, Innovation & Security Studies at the National Defence University, Kenya. He was enlisted into the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) as an officer Cadet in 1986 and commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1988. Over the years, he has held various command and staff appointments including Deputy Army Commander in the KDF, General Officer Commanding Border Security Command, Chief of Operations Kenya Army, Infantry Brigade Commander, Colonel in charge of Operations Kenya Army, Senior Instructor School of Infantry, Directing Staff Joint Warfare Centre, Infantry Battalion Commander and Company Commander. His experience in Peace Support Operations include, AMISOM/ATMIS 1 as the Deputy Force Commander in Charge of Operations and Plans (2021 - 2022), AMISOM Sector 2 Commander (2017), Team Site commander in EMOCHM (Mozambique, 2015), Company Commander in INTEFET/UNTAET (East Timor, 1999 - 2000) and Company second in Command in UNPROFOR (former Yugoslavia, 1994). Maj Gen Shume has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Disaster Management & International Diplomacy. Mastering Enterprise Security Risk Management from Pan African Shield College (Kenya). Currently, pursuing Masters in International Relations.

Augustus Kamitu (Panel Chair)
Sales Director - Enterprise & Cloud Africa
SES

Augustus is an astute technical and solution sales professional with over 16 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. His role at SES encompasses all sales activities, customer relations and business development across the Africa region working closely with Governments, Mobile Network Operators, Telcos, Carriers and ISPs. Prior to joining SES, Augustus worked with Avanti Communications Group PLC (London, UK 2018-Nov 2019, as a Regional Sales Manager, East Africa), Thuraya Telecommunications Company (UAE, 2014-2018, as a Sales Manager Africa) and Safaricom PLC (Kenya, 2007-2014, as Enterprise Sales Manager). Augustus has built a reputation for augmenting compelling and successful business partnerships, developing winning business strategies, incubating new business models and building out channel programs across Africa.

Caroline Gaju
Programme Coordinator
ITU Regional Office for Africa

Caroline Gaju is a Chartered Engineer with more than ten years’ experience working in the ICT sector and currently serves as a Programme Coordinator at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Africa. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Project Management. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET).

Col Julius Mbaine Rubakuuba
Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence-CI
Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF)

Col Mbaine currently serves the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) as Assistant Chief of Defense intelligence-CI, a position he has held since 2019. He was born in 1973 and joined the UPDF in 1995 as an Officer Cadet and commissioned as 2Lt in 1997. Col Mbaine has trained through all officers’ line courses and holds two prestigious symbols of ‘psc’ and ‘ndc’ respectively. He also holds a Masters Degree in Security and Strategic Studies.

Mehdi Houichi
Head of ICT
CISSA - AUC's Committee of Intelligence & Security Services of Africa

Mehdi Houichi, a telecommunications engineer graduated from the Higher School of Telecommunications in Tunisia, an expert in the field of telecommunications, Head of the Information & Communication Department at CISSA.

Anthony St Clair (Panel Chair)
President & Co-Founder
African Corporate Services (ACS)

Anthony retired from the US Army in 2006 after successfully completing multiple tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, and Asia. Since then, Anthony has captured and lead many Security Sector Reform enabling contracts across Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe and positioned ACS as a trusted global critical services provider. From humble roots in Niamey, Niger to a global footprint in Dubai, UAE with past performance spanning the continent. In 2013 Anthony moved to Niger with the intent of providing world class defense services to Africa and Co-founded ACS. For well over a decade, Anthony has worked and lived in Africa. He holds a Bachelors in Business Administration degree from Penn State University. Today Anthony resides in Kigali, Rwanda with his wife and children.

Col Andy Pitt
Commander
British Peace Support Team (Africa)

Colonel Pitt commissioned in 1996 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He initially joined the AS90-equipped 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery based in Tidworth, UK, and then 4th Regiment Royal Artillery in Osnabruck, Germany in 1999, as an armoured Forward Observation Officer. He worked in Army International policy from 2002 to 2004, and at Staff College from 2004 to 2006, after which he was assigned to command 97 Battery Royal Artillery, supporting operations across southern Afghanistan as part of Operation HERRICK. In 2008, Colonel Pitt returned to Shrivenham as an instructor at the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land), and in 2010 was assigned as Chief of Staff at the British Peace Support Team (Eastern Africa). After additional deployments to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015, he was assigned to Security Policy and Operations in the Ministry of Defence, initially as the desk officer for Somalia. In 2021/22 he was the Chief of Staff for the UK MOD response to Russia’s intended and then actual invasion of Ukraine. In 2022 Colonel Pitt was assigned to the U.S. CJTF-HOA in Djibouti as the Director Strategy and Plans, and on his return in 2023 he was the military team lead for the UK MOD response to the Gaza Conflict that began in October. In January 2024 Colonel Pitt was assigned as Commander of the British Peace Support Team (Africa), based in Nairobi, which he feels is both like coming home and a last opportunity in military service to contribute to HMG international objectives in Africa.

Maj Gen (Ret) Fidza Dludlu
Special Advisor to the SRCC
ATMIS - African Union Transition Mission in Somalia

Major General (Ret) Fidza Dludlu is a Senior Advisor (since Nov 2021) to the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) and ATMIS Head of Mission. He was Commissioned into the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (now Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force) in 1980 after completion of his Officer Cadet Course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK. He has served in the Eswatini Defence Force in various command and staff appointments. He has also served in the African Union Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) as a planning officer in the Mission Support Unit (March 2011-March 2015), as the AMISOM Acting Head of Mission Support (May 2015 - October 2016) and as the AMISOM Head of Mission Support (November 2016 – August 2021). He holds a Bachelors in Military Science from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa (1996); a Masters in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa (2004) and a Masters in Managing Peace and Security from the University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2014).

Michel Soula
Head of Multilateral Organizations
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Michel Soula currently deals with NATO’s relations with multilateral organizations within the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division at NATO Head Quarters. He previously dealt with NATO’s operations at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, namely maritime operations and Kosovo, and NATO’s operation in Libya. Beforehand, he held the position of Deputy Director in the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General, working with Javier Solana and Lord Robertson. A French civil servant, Michel Soula was seconded to the French Foreign Service where he held various positions, in particular on chemical and biologic warfare.

Brig Gen Stephen Kashure
Joint Chief of Staff
EASF - Eastern Africa Standby Force

Brig Gen Stephen Tumwesigye Kashure was born in Sheema District of Uganda in 1961. He holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi obtained in 2011. Earlier he attained a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana in July, 2004. His Bachelor of Arts (Hons) was from Makerere University Kampala, Kampala, Uganda, 1987. The Brig Gen has served in the National Resistance Army, later Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces in various command and staff appointments. He has also had a number of tours of duty in instruction as well as missions outside Uganda. He was posted to Washington D.C as Defence and Military Attaché in July 2019. He is married with children. He is currently the Joint Chief of Staff, Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and Head of the Planning Element (PLANELM), based in Nairobi – Kenya.