RDF Peacekeepers share lessons learned

Kigali: Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), in partnership with the United States Institute of Peace and various other partners, is conducting a two-day workshop dubbed, “Lessons learned from peacekeeping operations.”

The Lessons learned Workshop has become an annual exercise for the RDF together with Partners in PSO pre-deployment training. The forum will tackle matters ranging from pre-deployment training, force generation and staffing, the discipline of troops, mission working documents and operational challenges, among others.

While opening the workshop at RDF HQs, Lt Gen Jean-Jacques Mupenzi, the Army Chief of Staff, urged participants to share the rich experiences acquired from their respective completed tours of duty so as to be integrated into pre-deployment training package and future conduct of peace support operations.

“Such experiences, will ultimately constitute important lessons learned and best practices to enable RDF to conduct both efficient and effective peace support operations in the future,” said Lt Gen Mupenzi.

Currently, Rwanda is the 2nd biggest TCC in support of UN PSO and RDF maintains 5 Infantry Battalions, a Mechanised Infantry Battalion, a Mechanized Infantry Battle Group, an Aviation Unit, a Level II hospital, Staff Officers, Liaison Officers and Military Observers, all in support of AMISOM, MINUSCA, UNAMID, UNISFA and UNMISS with a total of 5,342 military personnel. (End).