Museveni to Malian Officers: Pan-Africanism is Africa’s Shield Against New Geopolitical Scramble

ENTEBBE, UGANDA – In a pivotal address at State House Entebbe on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni imparted a seasoned vision of African self-reliance to a delegation of student officers from Mali’s War College. Drawing on over six decades of engagement in continental affairs, President Museveni implored the future military leaders to champion patriotism, Pan-Africanism, economic transformation, and strategic security as indispensable pillars for Africa’s enduring stability and prosperity amidst a challenging global landscape.

The delegation, led by Brig. Gen. Moussa Yoro Kanté, Commandant of the War College of Mali, listened as Museveni, a self-proclaimed disciple of iconic Pan-Africanists like Modibo Keita, Kwame Nkrumah, and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, outlined what he described as Africa’s three historical missions: fostering widespread prosperity, ensuring robust strategic security, and cementing African unity. His message underscored that the continent’s post-independence struggles were never solely about political liberation but, crucially, about creating sustainable economic well-being for its diverse populations.

Economic Integration: The Engine of Prosperity

President Museveni meticulously unpacked his argument for economic transformation, dismissing the notion that prosperity can be “begged for.” Instead, he asserted, it is forged through the production of goods and services that command value in wider markets. “Africa has been begging for decades, yet many countries remain poor. Prosperity comes from producing a good or service that other people are willing to buy,” he stated, drawing on his personal experience as a cattle keeper to illustrate the necessity of transcending local, tribal markets. For Museveni, national markets serve as vital springboards, but true, expansive wealth creation demands regional integration.

“When Ugandans began producing more sugar, textiles, milk and maize, the local market was no longer enough,” he explained. “That is why Pan-Africanism is not just an ideology; it is an economic necessity. Africa provides the larger market that will sustain our prosperity.” This commitment to moving beyond subsistence farming towards commercial production and value addition, exemplified by Uganda’s dairy industry, was presented as a critical pathway to higher incomes, job creation, and diversified export opportunities across the continent.

Strategic Security: Guarding Africa’s Gains

Complementing the economic imperative, President Museveni emphasized that prosperity remains vulnerable without the capacity to defend it. Strategic security, he argued, constitutes Africa’s second historical mission. He highlighted the evolving nature of modern warfare, which now extends beyond traditional land, air, and sea domains to include space. In this complex arena, no single African nation can effectively compete alone.

“Even developed countries such as France, Germany and Britain cannot independently dominate all these areas. That is why political integration in Africa is so important,” Museveni asserted, echoing a long-held view among many continental leaders. His remarks carried particular resonance given current regional dynamics, as he welcomed the ongoing efforts by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to strengthen regional cooperation. Deeper political and security integration, he contended, would empower African states to collectively safeguard their sovereignty and accelerate development, especially against the backdrop of a “new scramble for Africa” fueled by external competition for resources and influence. This vulnerability, he lamented, stems from the failure of past post-independence leaders to fully unite the continent.

Mali’s Quest for Knowledge and Collaboration

The Malian delegation’s visit, which commenced on July 12, was described by Brig. Gen. Wycliffe Keita, Commander Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, as a vital study tour. Its objective was to deepen participants’ understanding of national security, defence transformation, regional peace and security, governance, and civil-military relations. The officers had already engaged with key Ugandan institutions, including the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), seeking to learn from Uganda’s experiences.

Brig. Gen. Keita lauded President Museveni as “one of the region’s leading Pan-Africanists” for his unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and “African solutions to African challenges.” Brig. Gen. Moussa Yoro Kanté, speaking on behalf of Mali’s President, Gen. Assimi Goïta, extended gratitude for Uganda’s sustained military cooperation, including the training of Malian officers, and for Museveni’s steadfast Pan-Africanist vision. The diverse 37-member delegation included staff and student officers from eight African nations: Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Morocco, Senegal, and Togo, underscoring the broad interest in Uganda’s approach.

During an interactive session, participants probed President Museveni on critical issues such as regional security, counter-terrorism strategies (which he noted require both ideological and military approaches), global competition for Africa’s natural resources, and the potential for replicating Uganda’s successful NEC model in other African contexts. The discussions reaffirmed the pressing need for African leaders, both military and civilian, to embrace unity, economic self-reliance, and robust collective security mechanisms to chart a prosperous and secure future for the continent.