News detail

Kigali, 29 October 2018

A contingent of 150 personnel from Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), led by Lt Col Eugene Rutayisire will on Wednesday 31 October 2018 leave Kigali for a two-week East Africa Community (EAC) military exercise in Tanga, Tanzania.

The Field Training Exercise (FTX) codenamed“USHIRIKIANO IMARA XI” ‘is scheduled from 03 to 17 November 2018.

The objective of the exercise is to engage the EAC Partner States’ armed forces and other stakeholders in the planning and conduct of an integrated peace support operation, disaster management, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy in order to improve capabilities in jointly combating complex security challenges.

The exercise is also expected to improve readiness, interoperability and strengthen cooperation between the EAC Partner States armed forces and key stakeholders among other objectives.

While briefing the forces before they head to Tanzania, the Army Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Jacques Musemakweli today asked the contingent to be good ambassadors by demonstrating high level of discipline.

“You have to uphold high level of discipline as is the RDF culture. You should be professional and innovative in all the duties you will be exercising,” he told the contingent at Kami Barracks.
Lt Gen Musemakweli also advised the contingent to work as a team and share experiences with other foreign counterparts from EAC armed forces.

About 1600 military, police and civilians from five EAC member countries namely Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will participate in the Field Training Exercise (FTX) Ushirikiano Imara 2018.

Back