The Central African Republic Armed Forces (FACA) on Saturday, November 29, officially enrolled 545 new soldiers who completed their basic training under the instruction of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). ALSO READ: Rwandan army chief visits troops in Central African Republic The ceremony, the third of its kind, also marked the graduation of 121 platoon sergeants who successfully completed a six-month leadership course delivered by RDF instructors. The pass-out ceremony, held at Camp Kassai Military Barracks in Bangui, was presided over by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. The first cohort of 512 soldiers trained under the framework of a bilateral agreement between Rwanda and CAR graduated on November 24, 2023. In August 2024, a total of 634 soldiers of the Central African Armed Forces graduated as part of the second cohort. The Central African Republic Armed Forces (FACA) have officially enrolled 545 new soldiers who completed their basic training under the instruction of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The ceremony also marked the graduation of 121 platoon sergeants who successfully completed a... pic.twitter.com/BBkHNWf38u — Rwanda Defence Force (@RwandaMoD) November 29, 2025 Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, the RDF Army Chief of Staff, was among the distinguished guests in attendance. Gen Victor Yacoub, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the FACA, expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of military training. He noted that RDF has now trained 2,409 soldiers in basic military training and 300 non-commissioned officers. He also praised the trainees for the dedication and discipline demonstrated throughout the six-month programme. Maj Gen Nyakarundi congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to uphold the highest standards of competence and discipline as they serve their nation. He urged the newly graduated platoon sergeants to lead by example, ensure the smooth execution of operations, and continue advising their commanders effectively. Maj Gen Nyakarundi expressed gratitude to the two Heads of State for their support throughout the training mission. The ceremony featured demonstrations of key skills acquired during the training, including marksmanship, map-reading, and martial arts.
