MINEMA Strengthens Rwanda’s Preparedness for CBRN Emergencies Through Tabletop Exercise

The Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), in collaboration with the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative, conducted a three-day CBRN Tabletop Exercise from 18 to 20 August 2026 to strengthen Rwanda’s preparedness and coordinated response to chemical and radiological emergencies.

The exercise, conducted under Project 106 of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative, brought together representatives from relevant government institutions and members of the national CBRNE Task Force. It was technically facilitated by experts from the United Kingdom and Kenya.

The scenario-based exercise provided participants with an opportunity to simulate a complex CBRN emergency and test national preparedness and response arrangements. Participants assessed command and control mechanisms, inter-agency coordination, incident reporting and decision-making processes, while identifying areas requiring further improvement.

The exercise also enabled institutions to assess existing policies, plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as the availability and effectiveness of personnel, training, equipment, communication and logistics arrangements required during a CBRN emergency.

Through the simulation and discussions, participants identified key capability gaps, including the need for clearer roles and responsibilities among responding institutions, stronger multi-agency coordination, regular joint exercises, improved incident reporting and decision-making tools, and enhanced interoperability of communication systems and equipment.

Delivering the closing remarks, Permanent Secretary at MINEMA, NGOGA Aristarque, commended the participating institutions and technical experts for their active engagement throughout the exercise. He noted that Rwanda has considerable experience in preparing for and responding to more familiar hazards such as floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, while CBRNE risks require specialised preparedness and response capacities.

“We are accustomed to dealing with disasters caused by rainfall, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but CBRNE risks appear to be relatively new to us.”

PS NGOGA emphasised that the tabletop exercise provided an important opportunity for institutions to strengthen their readiness to manage the complexities associated with CBRNE incidents by testing existing capabilities, strengthening coordination and identifying gaps before an actual emergency occurs.

He urged participating institutions to draw lessons from the exercise and translate the findings into concrete actions to improve national preparedness. He further recommended revisiting the national CBRNE Action Plan to ensure that it incorporates the lessons learned and addresses the capacities and systems required for an effective response to CBRNE emergencies.

The exercise highlighted the importance of effective coordination among institutions with different mandates and responsibilities in preventing, preparing for and responding to CBRNE incidents. Participants worked through evolving scenarios requiring timely information sharing, coordinated decision-making and effective command and control, providing an opportunity to identify practical challenges that could affect response operations during a real incident.

The gaps identified during the exercise covered policies and plans, SOPs, personnel, training, equipment, communications and logistics. The exercise also reinforced the need for regular joint simulations to maintain institutional readiness and strengthen cooperation among first responders and other relevant agencies.

The identified gaps and recommendations will be consolidated and shared with the Regional Secretariat under the EU CBRN CoE framework to facilitate further technical support and contribute to strengthening Rwanda’s national CBRN preparedness and response capacity.

The CBRN Tabletop Exercise forms part of Rwanda’s continued efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and build a resilient, disaster-ready nation capable of responding effectively to both familiar and emerging risks. By testing preparedness arrangements in advance, the exercise enables institutions to identify weaknesses, develop solutions and strengthen the systems required to protect lives, communities and the environment in the event of a CBRNE emergency.