News detail

Musanze, 8 September 2025

The Battle Group Commanders’ Training of Trainers course in Peace Support Operations started today at the Rwanda Peace Academy in Musanze district. The course was organized in partnership with the Rwanda Peace Academy, Eastern African Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat and African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and will run from 8th to 19th September 2025.

It is attended by military senior officers from 6 Eastern African Standby Force member states, namely Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, as well as the EASF Headquarters.

The training was officially opened by the Defence spokesperson, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

The Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga expressed gratitude to the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) for its steadfast commitment to building internal capacity to ensure peace and security in the region. He also commended the Rwanda Peace Academy for hosting this significant course and for its ongoing efforts in delivering the requisite training courses to enable commanders and staff to effectively conduct peace support operations in the region and beyond.

Brig Gen Rwivanga highlighted the necessity of the course, saying that “expanding the pool of qualified personnel is essential in creating a sustainable nucleus of training experts who can cascade their skills and knowledge across all levels of our forces”. He added,”By empowering you to become both leaders and educators, we ensure that training excellence is replicated consistently, even in the most remote operational environments."

He further reminded the course participants that undertaking this course is not merely about developing individual capacity but also strengthening institutional resilience.

He emphasized that they are not only being prepared to lead, but also to teach, mentor, and multiply the knowledge and experience essential for sustaining a strong, professional, and responsive standby force. He urged the participants to approach this course with an open mind, discipline, and a shared sense of purpose.

Mr. Kenneth Goren Albert, Coordinator of the International Advisory and Coordination Staff, congratulated the facilitators, participants, EASF, and Member States for participating in this important training. He emphasized the vital role of facilitators in equipping future trainers with the skills and knowledge needed to lead and address complex, population-centric operations at battle group and sector levels.