A contingent of 150 soldiers of the 44 Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is in Rwanda for a three-week field training exercise at the  RDF Combat Training Centre - Gabiro. 

According to Col Ronald Rwivanga, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Spokesperson, this implifies deepening military cooperation between Rwanda and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

"We have been partnering with the Netherlands for more than 15 years in military matters, and their soldiers coming to train in Rwanda shows the confidence they have in our training systems,”

"In addition to that, our training locations have the requisite facilities to conduct these trainings,” he said.

Lt Col Maikel Vrenken, who is heading the contingent from the Netherlands, said they would like to strengthen bilateral ties in security matters, adding that it is an excellent opportunity for their soldiers to train in Rwanda.

"Rwanda is over 1,000 metres above sea level while the Netherlands is at sea level so the higher temperatures and higher humidity and the savannah in Rwanda makes it challenging for our soldiers, which is why we are here for the training,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the contingent paid a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial to honour victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, where 250,000 victims are interred.

Lt. Col. Vrenken said: "Rwanda is like a phoenix that rose from the ashes, seeing how far the country has come is remarkable."

He added that the Netherlands and the rest of the world should draw lessons from what happened in Rwanda to avoid such atrocities from happening anywhere again.

The Dutch envoy to Rwanda, Amb. Matthijs Wolters, said the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi has clearly shown the importance of value-based leadership in armed forces for the protection of civilians, and regrettably the consequences of a lack thereof. 

"Let these lessons not be forgotten,” he said.

Ambassador of Netherlands to Rwanda  Matthijs Wolters and Senior officers of the Dutch’s 44 Mechanised Infantry Battalion who lead a group of 150 soldiers who come to train Rwanda Defence Force.

Ambassador of Netherlands to Rwanda Matthijs Wolters.

Col. Ronald Rwivanga, RDF spokesperson delivers remarks at Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Senior officers of the Dutch’s 44 Mechanised Infantry Battalion who lead a group of 150 soldiers who come to train Rwanda Defence force pay tribute to the victims.