The mission of the Ministry of Defence is to ensure the sovereignty and defence of the country for protecting Rwanda’s interests, territorial integrity and protecting vital resources of the population and national values.

The overall goal of the Ministry of Defence is to generate, employ and sustain combat-ready, integrated and rapidly deployable Defence Force, capable of quick assemblage to meet varying contingencies both at home and abroad.

The Ministry of Defence has the following responsibilities: 

• To develop, to disseminate, and to coordinate the implementation of policies, strategies and programs for national defence;
• To put in place necessary administrative and legal instruments;
• To develop institutional and human resources capacity in the military sector;
• To coordinate and assess the implementation of national defence policies, strategies, plans and programs;
• To oversee the organs under its supervision;
• To mobilise resources for the development of the national defence sector and related programs;
• To promote military cooperation with other countries or defence organisations for the maintenance of peace and security

• To issue licences for export of weapons, ammunitions and the related technologies after authorization by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of Rwanda Defence Force;