‘UN Military Experts on Mission’ Course starts at Rwanda Peace Academy

Musanze, 29 October 2018

Twenty-one military officers from five Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) member states, started on Monday a three-week ‘United Nations Military Experts on Mission (UNMEM)’ course that is taking place at Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze District.

The objective of the course is to train military officers who will later serve with UN peacekeeping operations as military observers, military liaison officers and military advisers.

The official opening ceremony was presided over by the EASF Joint Chief Staff- Planning Element, Maj Gen Charles Rudakubana. In his opening remarks, Maj Gen Rudakubana thanked the participants and the leadership of their respective countries for having honoured the invitation.

 “As participants of this course, use the opportunity to share experience as well as learn from each other. This will lead you to work professionally during deployment in peacekeeping missions.” advised Maj Gen Rudakubana. 

The UNMEM Course is based on a simulation of a real field mission with participants arriving at the mission headquarters for check-in and induction training during the first week of their mission. 

The 21 course participants attending the course at RPA are from the Republic of Comoros, Republic of Kenya, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of Uganda and Rwanda, the host.

The training is provided by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with EASF, the Government of Sweden and the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO).