The minister pointed to the war between Ukraine and Russia as an example of how technology is transforming modern warfare. Ukraine has been able to launch attacks hundreds or even thousands of kilometres inside Russian territory using drones, while Russia has also carried out strikes on various cities without necessarily deploying soldiers on the ground.
Among the technologies being used is the Ukrainian An-196 Liutyi drone, which can reportedly travel between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres before reaching its target and detonating. The drone can be programmed with a specific route before being launched and can then operate toward its target with limited human intervention.
Other military technologies include autonomous robots equipped with cameras and sensors that can identify targets, analyse information, make decisions and carry out tasks with reduced human involvement.
Recent conflicts, including the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, have also demonstrated the growing role of advanced technology in warfare. Israel’s reported intelligence operations inside Iran, including the deployment of drones and coordinated attacks on multiple locations within short periods, have highlighted the increasing importance of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems in modern conflicts.
Speaking at the opening of the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali on August 12, 2026, Minister Nduhungirehe said advanced autonomous technologies and artificial intelligence are increasingly becoming accessible to both state security institutions and armed groups operating in different parts of the world.
He said African armed forces and security institutions therefore need to develop the capacity to use these technologies and remain ahead of emerging security threats.
“Advanced autonomous systems and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly accessible even to non-state actors. This means our armed forces and security institutions must embrace them and remain ahead. Africa cannot afford to be left behind as these technologies continue to advance. We must understand what they mean for our security, but also for our sovereignty,” Nduhungirehe said.
Africa has for years faced security challenges in several regions, including terrorist groups in West Africa, conflicts in the Great Lakes region and other armed conflicts across the continent.
Nduhungirehe said advanced technology should not only be viewed as a security challenge but also as an opportunity for African countries to respond more effectively to threats.
“Advanced autonomous technology is an opportunity. It can help us better address some of the threats to our security, including terrorism, attacks by armed groups and organised crime. To fully benefit from these technologies, Africa must invest in its own capabilities by developing the necessary skills, strengthening our institutions and building capacity to create solutions that address our challenges in our own way,” he said.
He added that ISCA provides a platform for African countries and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop African solutions to the security challenges facing the continent.
Colonel Patrick Nyirishema, Director General for Research and Development in the Rwanda Defence Force, said traditional measures of military strength have also changed.
In the past, military power was largely assessed based on the number of soldiers, the quantity of weapons and the strength of a country’s military industries. However, he said technology is now fundamentally changing those calculations.
“We have entered an era where machines can observe, analyse and make decisions, reducing the need for direct human involvement,” Col Nyirishema said.
He said one of the major questions for Africa is whether countries will invest in developing their populations so they can continue to use emerging technologies effectively, while also reforming institutions to incorporate them into their operations.
Col Nyirishema explained that advanced autonomous technology is transforming the battlefield and consequently influencing how countries recruit, train and structure their armed forces.
“The way we recruit soldiers, who we recruit and how we train them is changing. When you introduce advanced technology into security institutions, the number of personnel required becomes significantly smaller. However, the people you have, even if they are fewer, must be highly important because you need people who can work with the technology. You need people who can operate it, people who can build it and people who can plan military operations based on its capabilities,” he said.
He said Rwanda continues to look for ways to keep pace with technological developments, but other African countries also need to rethink how they prepare their armed forces.
According to Col Nyirishema, this should go beyond simply purchasing expensive security systems. Countries should also pay attention to technological changes that are increasingly becoming part of everyday life and ensure that their institutions have the skills needed to adapt.
Mali’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, said his country had also turned to military technology because of the enormous size of its territory.
Mali covers more than 1.2 million square kilometres, making it difficult to deploy enough soldiers to effectively protect the country’s entire territory, he said. As a result, the country has invested heavily in military technology, particularly drones.
“Specifically when it comes to drone technology, if you look at Mali, five years ago Mali had no drones in its inventory. Today, there are hundreds of these systems being used by our security institutions. Mali’s drones are operated by trained young citizens to address the country’s security challenges, and technology has become a major part of our security system,” Diop said.
