RDF and US Military officers taking part in peace operations workshop in Kigali
RDF and US Military officers taking part in peace operations workshop in Kigali
Rwanda hosts peacekeeping training workshop in collaboration with US under Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) to review lessons learnt in Peace Support Operations (PSO).
The two-day workshop has brought together Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and US Military Officers and US embassy officials in Kigali from February 3, 2014.
The initiative is designed to improve African militaries’ capabilities by providing selected training and equipment necessary for multinational peace support operations.
In his opening remarks, the CDS Gen P Nyamvumba highlighted the importance of incorporating the lessons learnt from Rwanda’s experience in the various peacekeeping missions.
He called on all the officers to take this seriously as this is not another academic exercise.
The Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program is funded and managed by the U.S.Department of State.
The initiative is designed to improve African militaries’ capabilities by providing selected training and equipment necessary for multinational peace support operations.
U.S. Africa Command supports the ACOTA program by providing military mentors, trainers, and advisors at the request of the State Department.
Col (Rtd) Dr Timothy Rainey, Director of ACOTA at the US State Department, told the media that USA is happy to partner with RDF, one of the most Professional Defence Forces in Africa that has performed very well in restoring peace and security in various Peacekeeping Missions.
The RDF swift deployment in Central African Republic and the way they are restoring order in that troubled country makes Rwanda a very good partner with USA in the interest of Regional Security.
ACOTA provides a full range of peacekeeping training and instruction tailored to match a country’s needs and capabilities.
The program focuses on 25 sub-Saharan African countries who are scheduled to participate in peace support operation or who are designated to be in a standby mode to do so.
Since May 2004, Rwanda participates in different peacekeeping missions under African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Rwanda currently maintains more than 5,200 peacekeepers in various missions and is presently ranked the 6th biggest troop contributor in peacekeeping operations in the world.