Higher Military Studies: Chinese Defence University Graduates 60 African Officers

Col. Ngwah Abdoulaye Kenyiveh was the lone Cameroonian participant in the 10-month course.

Some 60 African senior military officers on July 13 passed out from the College of Defence Studies, National Defence University, Beijing, after undergoing a 10-month War College course. The African officers from 28 English-speaking and 32 French-speaking countries were part of a total number of 134 participants for the prestigious course.  

“The course was very high profile, rich and diversified. It gave me a clear insight of the economic metamorphosis of the People’s Republic of China, a broad view of international and national security issues across the world, as well as equipped me with the necessary tools to analyze security problems and undertake conflict resolution,” Col. Ngwah Abdoulaye Kenyiveh, the only Cameroonian participant, said.

“The course does not only enable me to command joint operations, but it qualifies me to handle responsibilities at strategic level,” Col. Kenyiveh, who is one of many Cameroonian officers to take the course, noted. Overall, 134 participants received the training in English, while 32 officers studied in French – all bagging a Certificate in Defence and Security Strategy from the College of Defence Studies, National Defence University (CDS/NDU). The school is the highest military institution in China, it was explained.

“We provide a platform for officers from all over the world to communicate with each other, diagnose problems for international security and jointly explore ways of maintaining...