New York,19 January 2026

A team of six RDF and RNP officers is at United Nations Headquarters in New York City to participate in the 2026 Contingent-Owned Equipment Working Group (COEWG).

The COEWG is a quadrennial forum that brings together Troop and Police Contributing Countries (TPCCs) and the UN Secretariat to deliberate on issues related to equipment and supply in UN field missions. The forum also reviews and updates the Contingent-Owned Equipment (COE) Manual, as well as equipment and personnel reimbursement rates.

In his statement during the opening session, the Defence and Military Adviser of Rwanda to the UN, Col Deo Mutabazi told delegates that the COEWG 2026 comes at a time when peacekeeping operations are at crossroads due to a serious liquidity crisis leading to personnel and COE cuts and less predictability for the future.

Col Mutabazi reminded the delegates that fruitful COEWG reflects Member States’ renewed commitment to making peacekeeping more adaptive and responsive to existing challenges and emerging realities in the maintenance of international peace and security. He emphasized that peacekeeping operations can only succeed when supported by predictable, adequate, and sustainable financing, as enshrined in the Pact for the Future.

Regarding expectations, Col Mutabazi underscored the need for practical solutions to pressing issues such as COE rotation, ammunition replenishment, and reimbursement rates for deployed capabilities, particularly in the context of high demand and a disrupted global supply chain.