Kigali, 12 February 2024

Today, Rwanda Defence Force and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) held a meeting on establishing a Centre of Excellence for UN Peacekeeping lessons learned. The meeting was chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen MK Mubarakh.

During his remarks, Gen MK Mubarakh said that Rwanda has been in peacekeeping operations since 2004, but there has not been a platform designated for sharing lessons, yet there is a lot to share and learn from others.

“Peacekeeping theatres experience a lot of security, humanitarian and political informational challenges, misinformation or disinformation and hate speech have added another layer to these challenges that affect the protection of civilians, and even the safety and security of our peacekeepers. Beyond sharing lessons and practices and testing new concepts, the centre can serve as an additional training facility if equipped and adequate facilities are availed,” said Gen Mubarakh.

UN Peacekeeping, crucial for global peace, has transformed from traditional to multidimensional missions in response to evolving security landscapes. Peacekeepers confront diverse threats while safeguarding civilians targeted in conflicts. Adapting to current security challenges is essential for redirecting UN efforts towards effective peacekeeping.