NC Guard hosts African Military Law Forum Advisory Council

The forum, running April 26-28, 2022, provided legal advisors from several nations a chance to share their expertise in international, operational, administrative and civil law.


“The forum is very important, we see how each one (national legal experts) acts,” said Botswana Defense Force Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. MPho Churchill Mophuting.
By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan North Carolina National Guard Raleigh, North Carolina, United States May 12, 2022
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The North Carolina National Guard hosted the African Military Law Forum Advisory Council at the NCNG Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 26-28, 2022. 

The conference brought African military legal advisors from several nations including Botswana, one of the NCNG State Partnership Program peers, and Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Tunisia, Niger, Malawi, Burundi, and NCNG leaders including U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffery Copeland, the NCNG Director of Joint Staff and retired Col. Rick Fay, NCNG Chief Counsel. 

“We are honored to have you here,” said Copeland. 

The forum gave all a chance to share their expertise in international, operational, administrative and civil law.

 “The forum is very important, we see how each one (national legal experts) acts,” said Botswana Defense Force Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. MPho Churchill Mophuting. 

These events help military legal professionals promote adherence to the rule of law, systems of accountability, adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict, observance, respect, and protection of human rights, and the importance of military subordination to civilian authority. 

The gathering also announced the formation of the Women’s Peace and Security component to the ongoing forum. The AMLF is an organization composed of dedicated African legal professionals serving in the military or working in the Ministry of Defense or Ministry of Justice. 

Its goal is to bring together African military legal advisors from 54 African Nations to discuss legal topics of interest, propose model solutions, and exchange ideas on how to improve military operational adherence to the Rule of Law.

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