Brig Gen Elie Kozembrou, Deputy Chief of General Staff in charge of Logistics of the Central African Armed Forces, has commended Rwanda's recovery and progress since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, saying the country's commitment to rebuilding and overcoming divisions offers an important lesson for other African nations. ALSO READ: Kagame, CAR president discuss stronger bilateral ties Kozembrou made the observation during a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial on Saturday, October 31, where he paid tribute to victims of the Genocide alongside members of the Central African Republic (CAR) delegation. He said visiting the memorial was an important part of the delegation's working visit to Rwanda, particularly as the two countries share a longstanding security partnership and have supported each other through difficult periods. “As military personnel, it is our duty, when arriving in a country, to acknowledge everything that took place in Rwanda during the 1990s. We share in the grief of the Rwandan people, just as they have stood by our side through everything we have had to endure,” he said. ALSO READ: Rwanda-CAR defence pact epitomises ‘African solutions to African problems’ Reflecting on the accounts of the Genocide and its devastating impact, Kozembrou said the visit had deeply moved the delegation. However, he said Rwanda's determination to rebuild and move forward was what left the strongest impression on him. “What struck me most was how quickly the Rwandan people, having made a deliberate choice, set out to rebuild their nation and move past the past. That is what truly left an impression on me,” he said. He noted that Rwanda's progress was evident in the unity among its people, adding that the country's experience demonstrated what African nations could achieve by choosing reconciliation and a shared future. “Today, you cannot discern any divisions among the people, and the country has clearly progressed. It is an example for us, as Africans, to take to heart,” he said. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s peacekeeping in CAR reaching ‘considerable progress’ Kozembrou said the lesson for other African countries was not to remain trapped in the tragedies of the past, but to learn from them and focus on building a better future for coming generations. “The point is not to dwell on what happened, but rather to move beyond it and look towards the future, a future for us and for the generations to come. This will also set an example for other African peoples,” he said. The delegation also visited the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, where they toured an exhibition documenting the Rwanda Patriotic Army's military campaign to stop the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. At the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kozembrou also paid tribute to those who lost their lives, saying their sacrifice deserved recognition and respect. “Out of compassion, we are compelled to also bow our heads before those who lost their lives for this country,” he said. Rwanda and CAR have maintained security cooperation since 2014, when Rwanda first deployed troops to the country under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Rwanda has since remained a major contributor to the UN mission, with its forces involved in protecting civilians, supporting stability and safeguarding key national institutions and facilities. The partnership expanded in December 2020, when Rwanda deployed additional troops to CAR under a bilateral defence agreement, complementing its contribution to MINUSCA and establishing a separate framework for direct military cooperation between the two countries. Cooperation has also extended to strengthening CAR's security institutions through training for its soldiers, police officers and gendarmes. In February 2024, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen police and internal security cooperation. During President Faustin-Archange Touadéra's visit to Rwanda in November 2025, he and President Paul Kagame reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, including cooperation in defence and security.
