A delegation from the prestigious United States Military Academy, West Point, is in the country on a 10-day study tour aimed at broadening their knowledge on reconciliation.

The delegation led by Lt. Col. Diane Ryan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Leadership, arrived in the country yesterday.

Speaking to The New Times, Army and Defence Spokesperson, Lt. Col Jill Rutaremara, revealed that the delegation is here to study the implications of conflict and its aftermath using the Rwandan civil war and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as case studies.

"They also hope to learn the origins of the conflict as well as the impetus for political violence and its aftermath,” said Rutaremara.

The students are also interested in learning about the reconciliation process that promotes sustainable peace and psychological well-being as well as elimination of political violence and subsequent psychological healing. Rutaremara said the West Point team is interested in contemporary issues, particularly those in which women are involved. 

The delegation will visit a number of government institutions, international and civil society organisations.

Today they will visit the Ministry of Defence and army headquarters, the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) and Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi.

The delegation will also visit Mutobo Demobilization Centre, Musanze and Rubavu districts and Gako Military Academy.

Before they wind up their tour, the delegation will meet with members of the Forum for Women Parliamentarians’, the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Gacaca courts and the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) among others.

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