Rwanda will host the Centre of Excellence for United Nations Peacekeeping missions, The New Times understands. Rwanda is among the top five countries that contribute the biggest troops to UN peacekeeping missions. The establishment of the Centre of Excellence was the topic of a meeting on Monday, February 12, between the leadership of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and officials from the UN’s Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). ALSO READ: Rwandan peacekeepers in South Sudan decorated with UN medals Though the timeline is not known yet, once the centre is established, it will be a platform designed for sharing best practices and lessons from peacekeeping missions as well as learning from other countries, according to RDF Chief of Defence Staff Gen Mubarakh Muganga. “Peacekeeping theatres experience a lot of security, humanitarian and political informational challenges, misinformation or disinformation and hate speech have added another layer to these challenges that affect the protection of civilians, and even the safety and security of our peacekeepers,” Muganga was quoted as saying in a statement by the RDF on Monday. “Beyond sharing lessons and practices and testing new concepts, the centre can serve as an additional training facility if equipped and adequate facilities are availed,” he said. ALSO READ: Rwandan Police peacekeepers in South Sudan donate to orphans The UNITAR was represented by Evariste Karambizi, the director of its Division for Peace. The Geneva-based institute already collaborates with Rwanda, through the Rwanda Peace Academy, which provides training to military and police officers from Rwanda and beyond, who take part in different peace support operations. The UN Peacekeeping operations have transformed from traditional to multidimensional missions in response to evolving security landscapes, according to the statement. ALSO READ: 73,000 Rwandan troops deployed abroad “Peacekeepers confront diverse threats while safeguarding civilians targeted in conflicts. Adapting to current security challenges is essential for redirecting UN efforts towards effective peacekeeping,” it said. Rwanda has taken part in UN peacekeeping missions since 2004 and contributed more than 73,000 troops in different missions. As of November 2023, the country had more than 5,900 uniformed personnel in UN peacekeeping missions, making it the fourth largest troop-contributor after Nepal, Bangladesh and India.
