African Defence Chiefs Met for Inaugural Conference
Military leaders gathered in Uganda to discuss non-combatant strategies for regional security threats.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Military
General Alexander Jaffu of the Malawi Defence Force joined African military leaders in Kampala, Uganda, for an inaugural defence chiefs' conference. The event focused on developing adaptive, non-combatant military responses to evolving security challenges.
Why it matters
The summit aimed to shift military focus toward non-traditional security threats, including cyber warfare and natural disasters. President Yoweri Museveni emphasized that effective military capabilities must be grounded in clear ideology and strategy.
The conference focused on the Military Operations Other Than War concept to address terrorism, cyber warfare, and natural disasters. These protocols are designed to manage security threats outside the scope of conventional warfare.
The players
General Alexander Jaffu
He serves as the Chief of the Malawi Defence Force and represented his country at the summit.
Yoweri Museveni
He is the President of Uganda who delivered the keynote address at the conference.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba
He is a high-ranking military official who advocated for harmonizing doctrines and intelligence sharing.
Uganda People's Defence Force
This is the national military organization that hosted the inaugural African defence chiefs' conference.
The details
Hosted by the Uganda People's Defence Force, the four-day event provided a platform for leaders to advocate for the harmonization of military doctrines. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba played a key role in advocating for improved intelligence sharing across borders.
Timeline
The inaugural conference was held from October 5 to October 8, 2026.
Need to Know
The conference marks a definitive shift toward adopting the Military Operations Other Than War concept as a standard doctrine across the continent. This framework updates regional strategies to prioritize crisis management and cyber security over traditional combat.
The push for integrated intelligence sharing and unified military doctrine may lead to tighter regional border security and faster cross-border responses to natural disasters. Residents in participating nations may see increased standardization in how their defense forces manage humanitarian emergencies.
The takeaway
The transition toward non-combatant military responses reflects a broader necessity to address modern, non-traditional security risks. Implementing these strategies will require sustained political and ideological alignment among African leadership.
Further reading
For more context on how nations coordinate defense efforts, visit our Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by President Chakwera penned to call for national referendum on adoption of federal system of governance.
