After three days of collaboration and solution-finding, the first-ever U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Accountability Colloquium in South Africa co-hosted with SA National Defence Force has drawn to a close.
Events such as the Accountability Colloquium bring together operational commanders and their military legal advisors to share best practices with professional forces to respect the rule of law and human rights, and emphasizes the importance of operational commanders to seek advice from their legal advisors to ensure adherence to the rule of law. On the agenda? Finding solutions to military operational challenges in Africa.
In his opening remarks, AFRICOM’s Col (ret.) Mark Maxwell said he believes professionalism, accountability and legal know-how for operational commanders are three key pillars to ensure stronger partnerships and to strengthen African military operational adherence to the law. SA National Defence Force‘s Major General Lawrence Mbatha echoed these sentiments in his keynote emphasizing the important role training development and leadership play in ensuring progress and continued professional improvement.