MUSANZE - Ten senior officers of the Rwanda Defence Forces, (RDF), yesterday, started a Training of Trainers (ToT) course on understanding and analysing conflict which will be followed by an international pilot course on the same theme.

The training, which was organized by the Rwanda Peace Academy in partnership with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will be conducted by experts from Kings College London.

The ToT programme take place at the Rwanda Military Academy, Nyakinama, was launched by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Charles Kayonga.

The course is expected to attract officers from ten African countries, including East African  states.

In his remarks, Kayonga said that the Rwanda Peace Academy, a newly created institute, will focus on sustainable peace building by undertaking courses relevant to peace building and conflict management challenges in Africa.

"The pride of RDF and the Police in deploying well trained officers with a high level of professionalism in peace supporting operations and this (course), will help them understand and analyze conflict forms, and give the best advice on policy issues in potential conflict situations,” Kayonga said

The acting director of Rwanda Peace Academy, Brig. Gen Mushyo Kamanzi, said that the course will give participants an overview of the elements of conflict analysis and how these can be integrated in the context of pre-intervention assessment and planning for a peace operation.

Speaking during the function, Evariste Karambizi, from UNITAR, said that the course marks the beginning of a strong, fruitful and sustainable collaboration of UNITAR and the RDF.

Rwanda Peace Academy aims to respond to the need for long term peace building in Africa by offering training and research programmes relevant to conflict resolution.

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