President Paul Kagame is expected in Musanze District to preside over the graduation of 47 senior military and police officers who have been undertaking a one-year course at the Senior Command and Staff College of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The senior command course attracts officers between the rank of Major and Colonel. The college was established through the partnership of RDF and the University of Rwanda in 2012. “It is a course through which students are able to understand the national interests that these forces are meant to protect,” said Brigadier General Didace Ndahiro, the Commandant of the college. Highlighting the importance of the course from effective discharge of duty by the officers, Ndahiro said that it is only a professional army that understands interrelationships with other agencies that is able to secure a country. This is the ninth cohort graduation since the inauguration of the college, Ndahiro said, adding that 413 have graduated from it so far in senior command and staff course, and 447 graduates for junior command and staff courses. He pointed out that 94 of the graduates of the senior command and staff course come from other countries with which Rwanda has partnership, saying that these countries are from African and beyond. “Undoubtedly it is a sign that portrays the image of the College and, by extension, the image of Rwanda,” he said. Going forward, he said that the college will bolster its ability in building a professional army that is ready to deal with the contemporary security challenges. President Kagame also doubles as the Commander in Chief of armed forces in Rwanda.
