Army Week, serving the people

The on-going Army Week that is seeing practical socio-economic activities carried out by the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), is another indicator that the Rwandan society has by far gone past conflicts for which it was originally famous for. The African post-independence military has widely been perceived as rigid and intimidating, not fitting with the civilian population. It is therefore historic that this time, our military is not concerning itself with operations to avert crime, or to do with our national security, but to offer humanitarian assistance. The activities that range from offering free medical service to the population, especially in the rural areas, to putting in place several infrastructure in different communities across the country, are such a laudable gesture that is worth emulating by other African armies. It has been widely observed that the men and women in uniform in other countries, with the vast experiences they possess, tend to remain in their designated camps only waiting for ‘military action’ which may not come throughout the careers of some. This, therefore, is another way of having these officers passing other skills to society, since they were not born soldiers. It’s also a sign that African armies are much more than frontline forces but human faces. For example, yesterday, RDF officers were at Kibagabaga Hospital where they carried out a series of surgeries on different patients. The activities also showcase the professionalisation trend our military has gone through over the only over a decade it has been in existent. The Army Week, which coincides with the soon-to-be-celebrated Liberation Day that is marked every year on July 4, should therefore be made annual since, only a few days since it was launched, the worthy work done has proven to be enormous. We say Bravo! Way to go fellows, your diligent service to the nation is appreciated. Ends

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Army Week, serving the people