On behalf of the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Mr Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie (SED/CGN) chaired the opening ceremony of an international colloquium themed *”Food Security in Central Africa in an era of climate change and geostrategic upheavals.”* on Thursday 17 October 2024, at the Campus of the International School for Security Forces (EIFORCES). Attendants included administrative, municipal and traditional authorities of the Awae Subdivision.

In his speech, the Director General of EIFORCES, General Patrice BITOTE, stated that this conference is in line with the research, strategic and prospective intelligence activities of the institution, in the wake of preventing and managing threats to human security, by putting the focus on human causes.

Speaking in his turn, Mr SED/CGN praised the DG of EIFORCES for this commendable initiative and recalled the context of this two-day colloquium. He stressed that this colloquium is themed against a backdrop of challenges and uncertainties. These include challenges of climate change which disrupt agro-food systems and affect key sectors. And challenges relating to arm conflicts which affect the stability of States and undermine social cohesion.

This brings up the issue of devising a new strategy in order to sustainably mitigate the phenomenon of food insecurity. “The input you will give will provide new insights…suggest innovative and operational ideas”, he pointed out.

Mr SED/CGN concluded his address by expressing the hope that participants from several African countries (Central and West Africa) go back to their countries “feeling inspired and determined to take action”.