Musanze, 19 September 2025

Today, senior military officers from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Comoros, along with representatives from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Headquarters, successfully completed the Battle Group Commanders training of Trainers course in support of Peace Support Operations.

The course was held at the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze, from 8 to 19 September 2025.

The course was designed to build a pool of knowledgeable and skilled trainers responsible for preparing battle group commanders in Peace Support Operations. In addition to the course, the participants and facilitators visited Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum in Kigali over the weekend, where they gained deeper insights into the history, causes, implementation, and consequences of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi as well as Rwanda’s journey to rebuilding.

The training was officially closed by  Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, commandant of the Rwanda Defence Force Senior Command and Staff College, on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

In his remarks, Brig Gen Andrew NYAMVUMBA  stated that the course concluding today is highly relevant, as it has provided participants with essential subject knowledge and analytical tools. He added that “It has equipped you with all the procedural and conceptual steps that a trainer goes through before and during the delivery of the training as well as the evaluation. In short, you now have the required knowledge, skills, and confidence that a trainer must have.”

Brig Gen Andrew NYAMVUMBA urged the participants that the knowledge and skills acquired should be ably put to productive use.

He concluded thanking the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) for having funded this important course that was organized in partnership with the Rwanda Peace Academy and the Eastern Africa Standby Force Secretariat.

Lt Col Laurence Githaiga, one of the participants from the Kenya Defence Forces, expressed his gratitude to the Rwanda Peace Academy for hosting the course.

He described it as highly beneficial, especially for commanders, as it equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively train and guide their subordinates back home.

He stated, “This has been an excellent course, very instrumental in equipping us with the necessary skills to conduct training in our respective countries. It will also support the Eastern Africa Standby Force in enhancing integration and building the capacity for peace and security in the region.”