Two RDF officers graduate as pilots in Qatar
Kigali, 28 January 2021
Two Rwanda Defence Force officer cadets; 2Lt Eloge NYIRINGANGO and 2Lt Josia RUGEMA yesterday graduated as pilots from Al Zaeem Air College in Qatar. In total 85 students including 71 pilots and 14 from support specialties from Qatar, Kuwait and Rwanda graduated from the College.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani presided over the graduation ceremony of the 8th batch of students of Al Zaeem Air College at Al Udeid Air Base.
The ceremony was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, a number of ministers and other high ranking Qatar Defence Forces Officials.
Rwanda Defence Force was represented by Maj Gen Innocent KABANDANA, Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy Gako and Lt Col Dany GATSINZI, Chief of Operations-Rwanda Air Force.
In a speech on the occasion, the Acting Commander of Al Zaeem Air College Brigadier Pilot Abdullah Mubarak al-Mohannadi said the 8th batch of students spent three years of theoretical and practical training using the latest technology and successfully completed the requirements for obtaining a Bachelor's degree in aeronautics.
Al-Mohannadi congratulated the graduates and pointed out that the college provided all the capabilities over the years of study to qualify the students and refine their military and academic personalities and consolidate their lofty values so that they would be role models in all service and duty positions.
Qatar Armed Forces and RDF maintain good relationship and mutual defence and military cooperation.

More News
UNMISS FORCE COMMANDER PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO RWANBATT-1 TROOPS IN SOUTH SUDAN
Juba 17, September 2025
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Force Commander, Lt Gen. Mohan Subramanian has begun a two-day official…
RDF PRESS RELEASE: RDF SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN RUTSIRO DISTRICT
REF: RDF/DPA/A/10/07/2025
Kigali, 16 September 2025
This afternoon, at 13:40 hours, a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operated as part of…
DEFENCE SPOKESPERSON DISCUSSES ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT AT A SYMPOSIUM IN KIGALI
Kigali, 15 September 2025
Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga today joined other panellists to discuss security and democracy in the Great…
RDF ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF BRIEFS RWANDA SECURITY FORCE AHEAD OF DEPLOYMENT TO CABO DELGADO
Gako, 13 September 2025
Today, at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, Maj Gen V. Nyakarundi, the RDF Army Chief of Staff, together with…
LT GEN INNOCENT KABANDANA LAID TO REST
Kigali, 12 September 2025
Today, the Rwanda Defence Force joined family and friends in a burial ceremony of Lieutenant General Innocent Kabandana…
RDF SHARES PEACEBUILDING AND REINTEGRATION SUCCESS DURING AFRICAN UNION TECHNICAL ENGAGEMENT IN KIGALI
Kigali, 11 September 2025
This evening, the Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, delivered a keynote address during a technical…
SECTOR SOUTH COMMANDER UNDER UNMISS BIDS FAREWELL TO RWANBATT-1 TROOPS IN JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
Juba , 8 September 2025
This evening, the Sector South Commander under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Brigadier General Dinesh…
RWANDA PEACE ACADEMY HOSTS BATTLE GROUP COMMANDERS’ TRAINING OF TRAINERS COURSE
Musanze, 8 September 2025
The Battle Group Commanders’ Training of Trainers course in Peace Support Operations started today at the Rwanda Peace…
RDF MOURNS LT GEN INNOCENT KABANDANA
Kigali, 7 September 2025
The Rwanda Defence Force is deeply saddened to announce the unfortunate death of Lt Gen Innocent KABANDANA. He passed…
RDF ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF JOINS THE 503 BRIGADE IN A ROUTE MARCH IN MUSANZE DISTRICT
Musanze, 6 September 2025
This morning, the Army Chief of Staff (ACOS), Maj Gen Vincent NYAKARUNDI, joined the RDF 503 Brigade personnel under 2nd…