Musanze, 22 July 2019

The United Nations Military Experts on Mission Course (UNMEM) kicked off today at Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze District with an aim to train military officers who will later be serving in UN peacekeeping operations as military observers, military liaison officers and military advisors.

While officiating the training, the Joint Chief of Staff at the Eastern Africa Standby Force Planning Element (PLANEM), Maj Gen Charles Rudakubana said that conducting such a high level course prepares candidates for future assignments as experts. “This course is critical as participants will acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them carry out their duties to the required standards. It’s also an opportunity for them to acquire the skills required for UN missions,” Maj Gen Rudakubana said.

Col Jill Rutaremara, the Director of RPA said that military observers play a crucial role in mission areas that are in most cases complex and characterised by accusations and counter-accusations by parties to the conflict.“ Accomplishments of these and other tasks necessitate that they have to be equipped with relevant knowledge and skills. This course is therefore essential not only to the officers who will be deployed as military observers, but also to those who may serve as military liaison officers and military advisers,” Col Rutaremara noted.

A total of 26 military personnel drawn from 4 EASF member states (Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan) will participate in the three-week intensive training. The training is organised by RPA in partnership with the government of Sweden under the wider umbrella of the Nordic Defence Cooperation.