Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Command and Staff College in Musanze District on Monday, March 16, launched its first International Relations and Security Course.

Maj Gen Eugene Nkubito, Commander of the RDF 3rd Division described the new course as important investment in strategic leadership, intellectual readiness, and national and regional security.

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The programme is the first in a new series of strategic-level courses developed in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Nkubito said the launch represents more than the introduction of a new academic programme.

"The course represents an investment in strategic leadership, an investment in intellectual readiness, and ultimately an investment in national and regional security,” he said.

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The inaugural 30-day course has brought together 25 participants from the RDF, Rwanda National Police, National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), and the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS).

Nkubito noted that modern security challenges are increasingly complex and interconnected.

"Strategic competition, technological disruption, transnational threats, and evolving geopolitical dynamics require leaders who can think beyond the battlefield, leaders who understand the broader political, diplomatic, and strategic environment in which security decisions are made,” he said.

He urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to broaden their perspectives, challenge assumptions, and build networks of cooperation that will strengthen collective capacity to address shared security challenges.

The Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College, Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, said the course was designed to strengthen the ability of senior professionals to understand international dynamics, assess strategic risks, and contribute effectively to policy and decision-making processes.

Nyamvumba said the initiative reflects the RDF’s continued commitment to investing in professional military education and developing strategic leadership within the security sector.

He also commended the partnership between the college and UNITAR, noting that such collaboration highlights the importance of building bridges between security institutions, international organizations, and academic communities to prepare leaders capable of addressing complex global challenges.