PNYX - Africa Security Symposium 2026

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Conference Chairs

Emmanuel Wekem KOTIA PhD
Retired Major General
Ghana Armed Forces

Major General (rtd) Dr. Emmanuel Wekem Kotia is one of Ghana’s most distinguished defence and security leaders, with more than forty years of service spanning military command, international peace operations, national security governance, and academic excellence. A respected analyst and policy practitioner, he has contributed extensively to strengthening security institutions and democratic oversight across Africa. His career includes senior leadership roles such as Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Commander of the Western Sector of MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Deputy Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). He has served in multiple United Nations and regional missions - including UNIFIL, ECOMOG, UNTAC, UNAMIR, MINURSO, MONUC, and MONUSCO - bringing deep operational experience to his work on peacekeeping, conflict management, and emerging security threats. His academic achievements include a PhD in Political Science from the University of Ghana, an MSc in Global Security from Cranfield University, and a First Class Honours BA in Political Science and Sociology. He is also Founder and Chairman of EKOTIA Consultancy, providing strategic advisory services in defence, security, and governance.

A prolific scholar and institution builder, Dr. Kotia has shaped security education and policy development in Ghana and beyond. He has led major curriculum and programme reforms at GAFCSC and KAIPTC, supervised over 130 postgraduate and doctoral dissertations, and held teaching appointments at leading institutions in Ghana, the United States, and the United Kingdom. His contributions to national security policy are equally significant: he chaired the drafting of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act (Act 1030), the National Signals Bureau Act (Act 1040), and played a central role in developing Ghana’s National Security Strategy and the National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism. He continues to serve on high level advisory boards, including the Ministry of Interior, and remains a trusted facilitator for the Parliament of Ghana. His published works - including the widely used textbook Ghana Armed Forces in Lebanon and Liberia Peace Operations and forthcoming titles with Bloomsbury - underscore his enduring influence on defence studies, international security, and strategic policy thinking across Africa.

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.

Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato FORSON
Ag. Minister of Defence
Ghana Ministry of Defence

Zaineb GHARBI
Police Advisor
UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)

Prof. Ahmed Abubakar AUDI
Commandant
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

Prof. Ahmed Abubakar AUDI, OFR, mni is the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), bringing more than three decades of distinguished service in security leadership, public administration, and strategic policy development. Born in Nasarawa State, he has built an exceptional academic and professional profile, holding degrees in Physical and Health Education, Public Administration, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, and a PhD in Public Policy Analysis. Since joining the NSCDC in 1996, Prof. AUDI has served in critical operational, intelligence, administrative, and procurement roles across multiple state and national commands. His strategic expertise was further strengthened through senior executive training at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), where he earned the prestigious mni designation. A respected security thinker, he has undertaken advanced international training in anti-fraud, economic crime, disaster management, and infrastructure protection, and has received multiple awards for excellence in administration and security operations.

Lieutenant-General Peter SCOTT
Deputy Commander
NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples

Lieutenant-General Peter Scott was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in Kincardine, Ontario. Enrolling in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990, he graduated from the Royal Military College in 1994 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer into The Royal Canadian Regiment. He has had the privilege of commanding from platoon to division level, and most recently as Deputy Commander Canadian Army. He assumed the role of Deputy Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples on 15 July 2024. Lieutenant-General Scott has participated in six operational deployments including the United Nations Protection Force in Croatia in 1994-95, the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia in 1998, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in 2005 and again from 2013-2014. He also deployed to Ramallah in the West Bank in 2010 as part of the capacity building under the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) and returned in 2019 to be appointed as the Deputy Coordinator for USSC and Commander Task Force Jerusalem.

Speakers

Guillaume BEURNAUX (Panel Chair)
Sales Director
Embraer Defense & Security

Guillaume BEURNAUX is an aerospace and aviation-safety specialist with more than 25 years of experience across the defence and commercial aviation sectors. He began his career after graduating as an Aerospace Engineer in 1998, going on to serve for over 15 years as Customer Support Senior Manager for EMBRAER Defense, supporting operators across multiple regions. From 2016 to 2025, he was Vice President for Compliance and Flight Safety at AMELIA airline, where he led safety governance, regulatory compliance and operational-risk management. Since October 2025, he has served as Sales Director for EMBRAER Defense, supporting capability development, fleet modernisation and strategic partnerships with defence customers. Guillaume brings deep technical insight, operational experience and industry perspective to discussions on airpower, defence cooperation and emerging aerospace requirements.

Col Henderson Macbinnie CHILENGA
Deputy Commandant (Joint Force Headquarters)
Malawi Defence Force (MDF)

Colonel Henderson Macbinnie CHILENGA is a senior officer of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) with extensive command, staff, and international mission experience. His career spans key operational and administrative appointments, including Company Commander, Brigade Major, Staff Officer in Training and Ordnance, Administrator for MDF Health Services, Chief of Sports and Culture, and Chief of Defence Foreign Relations. He has also served as Deputy Commander of the Malawi National Service and Deputy Commander, MDF Joint Force Headquarters, and is currently Defence Attaché-Designate to Ethiopia. Col CHILENGA has supported multiple UN and AU missions, including MONUSCO, UNISFA, ONUCI, UNAMID, AMIS, and MONUC, and holds advanced qualifications in Defence and Strategic Studies and Security Studies, alongside senior command and staff training across Africa and Asia.

Rajendra NAIDOO
General Manager
South Africa State Security Agency (SSA)

Air Marshal Jacob John NZVEDE
Commander
Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ)

Air Marshal Jacob John NZVEDE is a founding member of the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) after fighting in the struggle to liberate Zimbabwe from colonial rule. He successfully completed a pilot training course in Romania and was awarded a Diploma in Aviation. During his illustrious career, he has participated in military operations at both operational and strategic levels and has held Staff and Command appointments. Air Marshal NZVEDE has done all military courses commensurate with his rank. In addition, he is an accomplished academic with two Masters’ degrees in Business Administration and Development Studies. In recognition of his distinguished service, Air Marshal NZVEDE has been honoured with Service Medals and the highest military award, the Grand Commander of Zimbabwe Order of Merit (GCZM) Medal. Air Marshal NZVEDE is determined to lead the Air Force of Zimbabwe to play its part in maintaining peace and stability on the African continent and the world at large.

Kevin BUCHLER
Global Operations Officer
Communications Specialist Ltd

Kevin BUCHLER is a seasoned Global Operations Officer specialising in the design and delivery of integrated, scalable security and technology solutions across defence, critical infrastructure, maritime, aviation, and high-end commercial sectors. His portfolio spans tactical communications, C4ISR, Counter-UAS, AIS, maritime safety, border-security systems, and RF-spectrum intelligence, with extensive field deployments in complex and high-risk environments. Over his career, he has supported multiple international defence and security programmes, contributing to strengthened border protection, enhanced situational awareness, and modernised command-and-control capabilities for government and industry partners. Kevin’s professional focus includes layered security architectures, anti-drone technologies, surveillance integration, and advanced monitoring solutions, positioning him as a leading practitioner at the intersection of operational security and emerging technology.

Arnaud BESNIER (Panel Chair)
Sales Account Director
Advanced Middle East Systems FZ LLC

Arnaud BESNIER is a Government Sales Executive at Octostar, a European sovereign investigative intelligence platform specialized in data fusion for law enforcement, national security, and financial crime. A multilingual leader (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, with conversational Mandarin), he has built his career at the intersection of investigative technologies, AI, and digital transformation. Before joining Octostar, Arnaud spent four years at ChapsVision and previously worked at IDEMIA, supporting biometric identification platforms (ABIS/MBIS) deployed across more than 100 law enforcement agencies and used in international organizations including INTERPOL. Having worked closely with police forces and defense organizations across EMEA and LATAM, Arnaud has developed a strong understanding of operational requirements and investigative workflows. He advises organizations on Artificial Intelligence and Agentic AI adoption, with expertise spanning AI-powered investigations, COMINT, SIGINT, OSINT, OVINT, SOCMINT, DFIR, biometrics and digital forensics solutions.

Major General Saidu Tanko AUDU
Force Commander
Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)

Major General Saidu Tanko AUDU is the Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), bringing over three decades of operational, strategic, and international military experience. Born in Wukari, Taraba State, he began his career at the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 41 Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps in 1994. He has served in key command, instructional, and staff roles across Nigeria and abroad, including with MONUSCO in Congo, ECOMOG in Sierra Leone, the Defence Section of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and the Nigerian Army Armour School. His appointments span Platoon Commander to Commander 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Chief Instructor NAAS, and Coordinator NMTSAT at Army Headquarters. Maj Gen AUDU has participated in major Nigerian operations - FLUSHOUT, ZAKI, Restore Order, ZAMAN LAFIYA, and LAFIYA DOLE - and holds a Master’s degree in Strategic and Security Studies from the National Defence College, Tanzania. He is highly decorated with multiple service and merit medals. He is married to Barr Mrs Hindatu AUDU and the union is blessed with 6 children.

Amb. El Hadji Ibrahima DIENE
SRCC and Head of AUSSOM
AUSSOM - African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia

Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima DIENE is a Senegalese senior leader with more than 30 years’ experience in military operations, diplomacy, and peacekeeping across Africa and the wider international arena. Since April 2025, he has served as the SRCC and Head of AUSSOM, guiding efforts to advance peace, security, and political stability in Somalia. He previously held key leadership roles with the United Nations, including Chief of Staff at UNOCA and several senior positions within MINUSMA, notably Head of the Regional Office in Kidal, Chief JOC, and Principal Political Affairs Officer. A former Senior Officer and Pilot in the Senegalese Air Force, he has contributed to multiple peacekeeping missions and brings deep expertise in conflict dynamics and crisis-resolution strategies across West, Central, and East Africa. He holds advanced degrees in Military Studies, Political Science, Aeronautics, and Programme Management.

Dr. Muhammad MEHDI
Founder & CEO
Elile AI Corporation

Dr. Muhammad MEHDI is the Founder and CEO of Elile, where he is advancing sovereign AI systems for critical infrastructure, high-security mobility, and threat intelligence. With over two decades of leadership across Amazon and Microsoft, he has held senior roles including GM, AI Media at Amazon Ad Tech, Head of AI at Microsoft Research’s Autonomous AI team, and Head of Microsoft Azure Cloud Reliability and Capacity Planning. An early Azure engineer and the first architect of OpenAI infrastructure within Microsoft, Dr. MEHDI brings rare depth across AI infrastructure, secure systems, and mission-critical platforms. His work today focuses on building resilient, high-trust technologies that strengthen secure operations, intelligent infrastructure, and next-generation decision systems.

Sabine Esther Caroline ZWAENEPOEL
Acting Head of Unit
European Commission - International Partnerships

Sabine ZWAENEPOEL is a Belgian citizen who works since 1997 for the European Commission in Brussels. She is since November 2023 Deputy Head of Unit in DG International Partnerships in the thematic unit dealing with Peace, Resilience and Security and has been acting Head of this Unit in 2025 and 2026. Prior to that she worked for 11 years as a Senior Expert and team leader in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), mainly on the accession negotiations with Western Balkan countries in the fields of rule of law, anti-corruption and security. She also worked for a decade in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for HOME Affairs on the fight against organised crime. Prior to joining the European Commission, she worked in the European Parliament and in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg (France). She earned a Master’s degree in Political Science a Master’s degree in International Relations. She also obtained a MA in Eastern European Studies.

Fidel Amakye OWUSU
Strategic Advisor
unival group GmbH

Fidel Amakye OWUSU is a Ghanaian geopolitical and security analyst specialising in African geopolitics, conflict, and development. He serves as Security Advisor (Africa) to UNIVAL Group GmbH and is the Founder and CEO of DefSEC Analytics Africa Ltd, a security and geopolitics consultancy based in Accra. He also works as a non-resident expert with Geopolitical Intelligence Services in Liechtenstein. His work spans strategic advisory, research, and training for governments and international partners, with a focus on emerging threats and technology-driven security solutions. In 2024, he was a non-resident fellow at the Joint Special Operations University in Tampa, conducting research on counterterrorism. He has lectured at leading institutions worldwide and spoken at major security forums, including the African Land Forces Summit, the Silent Warrior Summit, and the World Border Security Congress.

Edward HARTUNG (Panel Chair)
Sales Director
Rakia Coding and Machine learning

Edward Hartung is a Sales Director at RAKIA Coding and Machine Learning LLC, a global leader in Big Data Fusion and OSINT solutions for intelligence, border control, and military operations. With international experience from several multinational firms, he is well-equipped to drive partnerships across the continent for higher safety. He is passionate about Africa’s cultures and security challenges, driving the innovative adoption of Rakia’s platforms, such as SafePass for border security and SafeFin for financial crime and cryptocurrency investigations. He is working with some of Africa’s largest law enforcement and intelligence agencies. At Rakia.ai, he champions cutting-edge, user-focused technology that delivers operational impact, helping governments harness data fusion, OSINT, and AI to counter terrorism, secure borders, and combat financial crime.

Yao Bernard AKA
Regional Specialized Officer
INTERPOL Regional Bureau for West Africa

Police Commissioner Bernard AKA is a senior Ivorian law-enforcement officer with more than 20 years of professional experience, including extensive service in international peace operations and regional security cooperation. He spent over five years within the United Nations system, serving as Acting Regional Commander with MINUSMA in Mali and later as Sector Chief of Operations with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he led field operations in complex security environments. For the past two years, Commissioner AKA has served as a Regional Specialized Officer at the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for West Africa, responsible for combating transnational organised crime and addressing key regional security challenges. He also represents the Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for West Africa at this symposium.

Hamady DIAKITE
Deputy Inspector General,General Inspectorate of Police & Civil Protection Services
Guinea Ministry of Security & Civil Protection

Commissaire Divisionnaire Hamady DIAKITÉ is a senior Guinean police leader with more than twenty years of progressive responsibility across national security, police administration, and institutional reform. Since March 2022, he has served as Deputy Inspector General of Police and Civil Protection, following earlier appointments as Rapporteur of the Police and Civil Protection Reform Committee and Interim Director General of the National Police Academy. His career includes command roles as Central Police Commissioner of Boffa, Deputy Commissioner in Koubia, and multiple leadership positions within the National Police Academy, including Director of Studies and Deputy Director General. He previously served as Technical Advisor to the Director General of Police, strengthening administrative governance and operational coordination. Commissaire DIAKITÉ holds advanced qualifications from ENSP Lyon, the ENSOP Cannes-Écluse, and numerous international programmes in counter-terrorism, VIP protection, human-rights-based policing, and security-sector management. He is recognised for his commitment to professionalisation, capacity-building, and modernisation of Guinea’s internal security institutions.

Berthaneema Wilhelim MLAY
Chief Arms Management, Disarmament & Registration
Tanzania Police Force (TPF)

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Berthaneema Wilhelim MLAY is a highly experienced Tanzanian law enforcement professional with over 25 years of service in policing, security, and leadership. Currently, ACP MLAY serves as Chief of Arms Management, Disarmament, and Registration at the Criminal Investigation Directorate, Police Headquarters, where she leads initiatives to combat the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) through strengthened regulatory controls on firearms. ACP MLAY holds a Master’s degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence College, Tanzania, and a Master’s in Leadership and Management from Mzumbe University. Her career spans forensics, investigations, training, anti-trafficking operations, and leadership roles, including Deputy Regional Police Commander, 13th Deputy Course Coordinator intake 2024/2025 at the National Defence College, Tanzania, and international peacekeeping service with UNAMID in Darfur. Furthermore, ACP MLAY serves as the National Focal Point for SADC and RECSA and the ATT Point of Contact, contributing to regional and international SALW control efforts, including the Nairobi Protocol review.

Ms Michelle Nxumalo (Panel Chair)
International Marketing Manager
DCD Protected Mobility

Michelle Nxumalo is an aerospace and defence expert with more than 18 years of experience across South Africa’s defence-industrial landscape. She serves as Chairperson of the South African Aerospace Maritime Defence Export Council (SAAMDEC) and is the International Marketing Manager at DCD Group. Michelle has held several influential leadership roles, including Chairperson of Women in Defence South Africa, Acting Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD), and Exhibition Director for Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2022. She previously spent a decade as Marketing and Research Manager at AMD. She has spoken and chaired panels at major international security and engineering conferences, including events in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Germany. Michelle holds an MBA from GIBS focused on African trade and has professional experience spanning more than 70 countries. She is based in Johannesburg.

Brig Gen Telenkako BANDA
Commandant - Kenneth Kaunda Peace Training Centre
Zambia Army

Brigadier General Telenkako BANDA is the current Commandant of the Kenneth Kaunda Peace Training Centre (KKPTC) in Zambia. During his over thirty (30) years of service, he has participated in several local operations and has been a member of UN battalion contingents twice, a Military Observer (MILOBs) once and Military Staff Officer (MSO) once. He holds a Diploma in Defence and Security Studies (Dip DSS) from the University of Zambia (UNZA) obtained in 2017, a Diploma in International Studies (Dip Int’l Studies) from the University of Nairobi (UoN) obtained in 2019, and a Masters of Arts in Defence and Security Studies (MA DSS) obtained at UNZA in 2021. On the peacekeeping front, in 2017, he completed an Integrated Mission Operational Commanders Course (IMOC) at RPTC – Zimbabwe and done several online courses with UNITAR-POCI. He also attended National Defence College (NDC) in Kenya in 2018/2019 obtaining a National Security and Strategy Certificate.

Brig Gen Alexander Edward MASANGURA
FIB Commander
MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade (FIB)

Brigadier General Alexander Edward MASANGURA, ndc, is a senior officer in the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces and a distinguished artillery expert. Born on 9 July 1973 in Butiama, Mara Region, he has built a career defined by leadership, training, and operational excellence. Commissioned in 1995, he rose steadily through the ranks to Brigadier General in 2024. He is highly accomplished academically, holding a Master’s degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence College Tanzania and an MBA in Human Resources and Strategic Management from the University of Arusha, alongside qualifications in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Throughout his career, he has served in key instructional and command roles, including Commandant of the School of Field Artillery. On 2 September 2025, he assumed the appointment of Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) Commander under MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has also participated in peacekeeping missions in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, where his leadership earned commendation. A dedicated professional, he continues to contribute to military training, doctrine, and regional security.

Simon WILLIAMS
Regional Director
United Aero Group

Simon John WILLIAMS is Director of Global Programs at United Aero Group, bringing over 40 years of experience in defence aviation, engineering, and global MRO operations. He began his career in the UK at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment before joining the Royal Air Force as a C-130 Flight Engineer, later commissioning into the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he retired as a Squadron Leader. Simon has led complex aviation programmes including the C-130 life extension and operational fleet management, and has held senior roles at BendixKing (Honeywell), Spidertracks, and Airwork.
At United Aero Group, he leads international programme development and OEM engagement, working closely with KAI and KAEMS. At ASEC, Simon will brief on KAI helicopter platforms and the delivery of integrated global support solutions to defence and commercial operators.

Mark Hawkins (Panel Chair)
Senior Humanitarian Technology Advisor
IEC Telecom Group

Mark has over 25 years’ experience in delivering telecoms, IT and renewable energy for the humanitarian sector. In his previous roles at Save the Children International and Merlin, Mark has deployed to many disasters around the world including DRC, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, Indonesia and Haiti. During these responses, Mark was able to set up radio and satellite telecommunications and networks. Working with local staff, he was able to train people at the same time as setting up technologies. In addition to leading disaster response, Mark launched the Disaster Response Training programme for Save the Children and also facilitated sessions on training programmes led by UNICEF, NetHope and The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster. Mark joined the Humanitarian Team at IEC Telecom Group as the Senior Humanitarian Technology Consultant and advises the IEC team on technologies which can have a positive impact for communities in the Global South. IEC Telecom Group is an international satellite service operator with 25+ years in the industry. Long-standing partnerships with all the major satellite operators as well as a wide distribution network allow IEC Telecom to provide connectivity and enable digitalisation for maritime and remote land operations across the globe.

Claude Kakule MUKANDA
Representative & Country Director
WFP Mauritania - World Food Programme

Claude Kakule MUKANDA is a senior humanitarian leader with more than two decades of experience operating across complex, high-risk environments in Africa. Since May 2026, he has served as WFP Country Director and Representative in Mauritania, leading strategic engagement with government, partners, and donors to advance food security, resilience, and sustainable-development outcomes. He previously directed WFP operations in Guinea-Bissau, where he strengthened institutional partnerships, expanded resource mobilisation, and improved programme delivery in fragile contexts. Claude has also held leadership roles in Ethiopia and Burundi, overseeing large-scale humanitarian and development portfolios. His work focuses on transforming food systems, reinforcing emergency preparedness, and scaling resilience initiatives that empower communities. A national of the Democratic Republic of Congo, he holds a Master’s in Leading Innovation and Change (York St John University, UK) and a Master’s in Economics (University of Kinshasa).

Daniel TAGOE
National Programme Officer
International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Daniel Nii Okai TAGOE is a National Programme Officer with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana. In this role, he supports the development and implementation of programmes aimed at strengthening migration governance, border management, and community stabilisation. He works in close collaboration with government counterparts, regional institutions, and international partners to advance integrated border management systems, enhance cross-border cooperation, and promote resilience in vulnerable and border communities. Daniel’s areas of expertise include migration data and analysis, protection, and humanitarian border management. Experienced in facilitating capacity-building initiatives and policy dialogue with frontline agencies and national stakeholders, Daniel's work contributes to advancing evidence-based, context-driven approaches to migration and security.

James Emmanuel WANKI
Regional Political & Intergovernmental Affairs Advisor
UNFPA West & Central Africa Regional Office

Graham WALKER
Regional Director - Africa
Shield AI

Graham WALKER is the Regional Director for Africa at Shield AI, leading their international business development, customer engagement, and the expansion of intelligent defence systems across the continent. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in a military family, he served 23 years in the South African Navy, holding the rank of a Naval Captain before his active service came to an end. After leaving the Navy, he started a second career in the defence industry serving Sub Saharan Africa for a large European defence company for 6 years. He joined Shield AI in 2025, driven by their culture and values and buying in to the company’s mission to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems; he believes in the technologies and solutions that Shield AI provide to enhance defence and security capabilities in Africa.

Lawrie ELDER (Panel Chair)
Regional BDM - MEA
SS8

Lawrie leads SS8's business development activities across Africa and the Middle East. As a seasoned professional with more than 20 years' experience, Lawrie has worked with National Security agencies across the world, advising on mission aiding technologies to predict, disrupt and prevent threats to peace, safety and the cohesion of the state. With SS8, Lawrie works with a team of engineers and solution experts to provide cutting edge solutions in Location based systems, data fusion and analytics to agencies across Africa ensuring harmony and stability.

ACP Chinedum ANIAGBOSO
Head: E-Recruitment & Data-Base Centre (ERDC),Department of Training and Development
Nigeria Police Force

Assistant Commissioner of Police Chinedum ANIAGBOSO is a distinguished Nigerian Police Officer with extensive experience in policing, security administration, strategic governance, and institutional development. A graduate of the University of Benin with a B.Sc. in Physics, he joined the Nigeria Police Force in 2005 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police and has served in several strategic formations, including the Ebonyi State Command, the IGP Secretariat, Zone 7 Headquarters Abuja, the Force Public Relations Department, and the Office of the Force Secretary. He previously served as Aide-de-Camp to Governor Willie Obiano and later as Chief Security Officer to the Anambra State Government House from 2014 to 2022. ACP ANIAGBOSO has completed multiple specialised international courses in Italy, Botswana, China, South Korea, and the United States (IVLP). He currently heads the E-Recruitment and Database Centre at Force Headquarters, leading professional development, recruitment, training management, and institutional modernisation initiatives.

Colonel Major Mohammed BADAOUI
Defence Security Office
Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR)

Colonel Major Mohammed BADAOUI is a senior officer in the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and holds responsibilities in the Defense Security Office at the General Staff of the FAR. He is also the focal point of the FAR at the African Union's Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STC-DSS). With extensive experience in the fields of force command, planning and protection of forces, as well as in peacekeeping operations, Colonel Major BADAOUI holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Law, a Master's degree specialized in National Defense and is a PhD student affiliated with the Laboratory of Studies and Research. He is also an expert in the field of military IT and telecommunications.

Theophilus BOTCHWAY
Principal Manager - Law Enforcement Liaison Unit
Ghana Cyber Security Authority (CSA)

Theophilus BOTCHWAY is an experienced cybersecurity professional with a strong foundation in digital forensics and Cyber Security. He has an MSc degree and professional certifications from ISC2 and Mile2, two leading organisations in the field of cyber security. He has nearly two decades of expertise in the telecommunications industry, where he excelled in managing fraud prevention for 19 years. He then transitioned to the financial sector, where he served as a corporate investigator, specializing in uncovering employee conduct issues. Over the past three years, he has held a managerial role at the Cyber Security Authority, focusing on the analysis of reported cyber incidents. His responsibilities encompass both the identification of cyber-related fraud and cybercrime, and the meticulous investigation of cases with criminal elements. He has a proven track record of collaborating with law enforcement agencies to facilitate arrests leading to prosecutions. He is a results-driven and resilient professional, adept at evidence collection, lead tracking, data analysis, and the enforcement of cybersecurity measures.

Nonofo DICHABE
Deputy Director
Botswana Police Service

Mr. Nonofo DICHABE is Deputy Director of Cyber Forensics within the Botswana Police Service. His duties are generally to assist the organisation on issues of policing, investigation, cybercrime, strategy, management, intelligence and Digital Forensics assessments and other trends affecting the country; Ensuring online criminal activity which crosses national boundaries is identified and appropriate information is actioned; Ensuring that online criminal activity is identified, appropriate action taken; Directing and coordinating operations with a view of penetrating online local, regional and international crime syndicates; and Researching and assisting officers in developing intelligence concerning targets and preparation of target profiles.

Col Patrick NYIRISHEMA
Head of Defence Research & Development
Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) / MoD

Col Patrick NYIRISHEMA has served as Head of Defence Research & Development for the Rwanda Ministry of Defence and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) since January 2021, leading national efforts at the intersection of technology, innovation, and security. From 2014 to 2020, he was Director General of the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), overseeing regulation across ICT, energy, water, transport, and nuclear and radiation safety. During this period, he also represented Rwanda on the ITU Council. Between 2006 and 2013, he held senior ICT leadership roles as Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Information Technology Authority and later Deputy CEO for ICT at the Rwanda Development Board, where he helped drive major national digital-infrastructure projects including the fibre-optic backbone, e-government systems, Rwanda’s first cloud datacentre, the national CSIRT, and PKI. He holds a master’s degree in computer engineering and is a graduate of the National Defence College, Kenya.

Colonel (Ret.) Tom MENKER (Panel Chair)
Business Development 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.

AVM Francis EDOSA
Chief of Defence Policy & Plans (DDPP)
Nigeria Defence Headquarters

Air Vice Marshal Francis EDOSA is the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans at the Defence Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A member of the 41st Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force in 1994 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering. He is a qualified Instructor Pilot with over 4,000 flying hours on multiple aircraft types and extensive operational experience across several military operations in Nigeria. Air Vice Marshal EDOSA is a graduate of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London. He holds a Master’s degree in International Security and Strategy from King’s College, London. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held numerous command, operational, training, and strategic leadership appointments, including Air Officer Commanding the Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, Nigeria and Chief of Training and Operations at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force.

Sameh RAZOUAN Ep ISSAOUI (Panel Chair)
Commander - El Aouina Air Force Base
Tunisian Air Force (TAF)

Senior Colonel Sameh RAZOUAN is a distinguished Tunisian Air Force officer and one of the service’s most accomplished helicopter pilots and commanders. She joined the military in 1995, graduated from the Tunisian Air Force Academy in 1999, and qualified as a Helicopter Pilot in 2001. Over her career, she has served as an AB205/UH-1H pilot, squadron commander, Military Safety Officer, and three-time Operations Room Chief at TAF Headquarters. She led the Tunisian Armed Helicopter Unit in MINUSCA in 2024, commanding deployed air operations in the Central African Republic. A trailblazer in the force, she became the first woman to command El Aouina Air Force Base, a position she holds from July 2022 till today. Snr Col RAZOUAN is a graduate of the US Air War College, Joint War College, and multiple NATO and UN executive programmes.

Daniel Kofi ABU
Programme Specialist - Climate Change & Urban Resilience
UN-Habitat

Daniel Kofi ABU is a Programme Specialist in Climate Change and Urban Resilience at UN-Habitat and a Chartered Environmental, Governance and Social Safeguards (ESG) Expert accredited by the Global Academy of Finance and Management. He brings more than 17 years of experience in forest landscape restoration, carbon markets, climate finance, sustainable agriculture, and natural-resource management across Africa. Before joining UN-Habitat, he served as Africa Programme Manager at Terraformation, overseeing large-scale carbon and ecosystem-restoration initiatives, and previously led national programmes for Tropenbos Ghana. His earlier roles include advisory and management positions with USAID, Digital Green, and the Greening Youth Foundation. Daniel has consulted for the EU, USAID, NCRC, and the World Bank, and is completing a PhD in Development Administration, with his research focusing on a sustainability-security framework linking restoration, resilience, and governance.

Ferdinand NJIKE FEUKEU
Regional Security Director West & Central Africa
World Vision International (WVI)

Ferdinand NJIKE is the Regional Security Director for West Africa at World Vision International (WVI), where he leads security risk management, crisis response, and operational resilience across complex humanitarian contexts. With extensive experience in West and Central Africa, he has overseen security strategies in fragile and high-risk environments, supporting frontline operations and safeguarding staff and communities. Ferdinand works closely with regional and national stakeholders, including government authorities, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners, to strengthen coordination and preparedness mechanisms. His expertise spans crisis management, access negotiation, and community-based security approaches. He is committed to fostering adaptive security practices that enable effective program delivery in dynamic and challenging environments.

H.E. Josephine NKRUMAH
Member
Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute (GoGMI)

H.E. Josephine NKRUMAH served as ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia from March 2022 to March 2026 and previously as Chairperson of Ghana’s National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). With 29 years of professional legal experience, she has built a distinguished career spanning governance, civic engagement, peacebuilding, and maritime law. She has held key leadership roles, including Executive Secretary and Legal Advisor to the Ghana Association of Stevedoring Companies, advisory board member to Ghana’s Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Transport, and lecturer in Maritime Law at the Regional Maritime University. As an International Maritime Organization (IMO) consultant, she supported legal and policy gap analyses in the maritime domain as well as conducting capacity-building in West Africa. Ambassador NKRUMAH has led major initiatives promoting inclusive governance, national security awareness, and social cohesion at national and regional levels. She has been instrumental in advancing Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325) and Youth, Peace and Security (UNSCR 2250), strengthening conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and stakeholder engagement in Liberia anchored in ECOWAS regional security strategies.

Sylvia Horname NOAGBESENU
Director,Policy Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Department
Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC)

Sylvia Noagbesenu is a lawyer with over 22 years’ experience in legal policy, human rights, gender, and development. She is the Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Acting Director of the Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). In this role, she provides strategic guidance and technical support to strengthen partnerships with the UN, AU, ECOWAS, governments, and civil society. She has led major initiatives advancing gender equality, peacebuilding, and the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the Maputo Protocol across West Africa, working with stakeholders to build mediation platforms, dialogue spaces, and leadership training for women in fragile contexts. Sylvia has also delivered evidence-based policy advice, supported legislative reforms, and contributed to regional and international human rights mechanisms. She holds degrees in Law, Social Policy, and International Business, alongside specialised certificates in human rights, leadership, and climate change.

Commissioner Hassana MSABOUE (Panel Chair)
Commander - General Service & Support Group,National Security Directorate (DGSN)
Mauritania National Police

Hassana MSABOUE is a Mauritanian Police Commissioner with strong operational, territorial-command and border-security experience. He currently serves as Commander of the General Services and Support Group, leading critical support, logistics and coordination functions across the national police. Previously, he was Commissaire of the PK55 Border Post with Morocco, where he oversaw cross-border security, migration control and interagency cooperation. His earlier leadership roles include Central Commissioner of Dar Naim and Commissaire of Dar Naim 2, giving him extensive experience in urban policing, crisis management and public-safety operations. He holds an MBA in Security and Development from THEMUS-Paris and advanced academic training in geosciences, with professional strengths in leadership, operational coordination, data analysis and security-sector management.

Dr. Adam Adamu Alhassan BONAA
Executive Secretary
Ghana National Commission on Small Arms & Light Weapons (NACSA)

Dr. Adam Adamu Alhassan BONAA is the Executive Secretary of Ghana's National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, bringing more than two decades of specialised expertise in security, safety, and intelligence. A results-driven practitioner and entrepreneur, he has 22 years of experience spanning counterterrorism, national and international security, surveillance and counter-surveillance, bugging and debugging, and defence intelligence. He has a proven track record in designing and implementing effective security solutions for both governmental and private-sector clients globally, with a focus on practical risk mitigation, operational resilience, and strategic threat management. Dr. BONAA’s professional background reflects a strong commitment to strengthening national security systems, advancing technical capabilities, and supporting policy efforts to reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Dominic GODANA
Country Director - Kenya
PanAfricare

Dominic D. Godana is a results-oriented and diligent organizational director with a diverse skill set spanning all aspects of organization development and management. With over two decades of experience in food systems and development, both in humanitarian and development settings with international organizations, Dominic is a seasoned professional. His expertise lies in business management, health, nutrition, food security, and health policy issues across the continent of Africa region. He is deeply passionate about improving the well-being of vulnerable communities. Dominic is the current Country Director of PanAfricare Kenya. Prior to joining PanAfricare he served as the Country Director and Head of Programs for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Kenya, a Swiss-based international organization launched at the UN headquarters in 2002 organization dedicated to addressing the human suffering caused by malnutrition and is headquartered in Geneva. Before his tenure at GAIN, Dominic also worked for Food for the Hungry (FH) International, a US-based international organization. Dominic holds an MBA in Global Business and Sustainability-Social Entrepreneurship from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, a BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and is a Public Health professional.

Daher MERANEH
Head of Peace Operations Department
EASF - Eastern Africa Standby Force

Daher MERANEH is the Head of Peace Operations at the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), where he oversees regional initiatives in peace operations, conflict prevention, early warning, mediation support, and security cooperation. He brings more than 18 years of experience in governance, peacebuilding, institutional strengthening, and regional security across Eastern Africa. He previously served as Deputy Director at the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE, leading regional programmes on resilience, conflict prevention, and countering violent extremism. His career also includes serving as Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Djibouti on governance reform, regional integration, and multilateral cooperation, as well as leadership roles with USAID-funded programmes, IOM, UNDP, and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies of Djibouti. Daher holds a Master’s degree in Advanced European Politics and International Relations from the College of Europe.

Alain Adonis RAFALIMANANA
Regional Director of Public Security
Madagascar National Police; Ministry of Public Security

Senior Police Commissioner Alain Adonis RAFALIMANANA serves as Regional Director of Public Security for Analamanga, bringing more than three decades of progressive leadership within the Malagasy National Police. He began his career as a Police Inspector and has held extensive operational and command roles, including Company Commander in Antananarivo and Commissioner of Public Security across multiple regions, giving him deep experience in both urban and rural security environments. He previously led public security in Bongolava Region before assuming his current post overseeing the capital region, home to national institutions, diplomatic missions, and major economic centres. His professional development includes graduation from ENIAP Antsirabe and ENSP Ivato, alongside advanced training in the United States, ILEA Gaborone, Gabon, and Addis Ababa. Commissioner RAFALIMANANA advocates for modern, professional policing grounded in institutional innovation, human-resource development, and strengthened international partnerships.