Kenya and Rwanda are set to take their military cooperation to a higher level by broadening their Defence Cooperation Agreement to cover technology, innovation, and professional development.
The agreement expansion follows a three-day visit to Kigali by Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, from November 5 to 7, 2025.
During his visit, General Kahariri met Rwanda’s Defence Minister, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff, General Mubarakh Muganga, at RDF Headquarters. Their discussions focused on advancing joint initiatives in innovation, digital defence systems, and capacity building for military personnel.
The two sides agreed to renew and expand their existing Defence Cooperation Agreement, which has been a key pillar of Nairobi–Kigali relations, adapting it to Africa’s evolving security landscape.
“Innovation is now as critical as discipline on the battlefield,” General Kahariri said, underlining Kenya’s commitment to developing resilient, technology-driven defence systems that can tackle modern security threats.
Rwanda’s Defence Minister, Juvenal Marizamunda, highlighted Kenya’s longstanding support and historical role in rebuilding Rwanda’s military after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“The friendship between our two nations has stood the test of time,” he said. “Kenya played a vital role in rebuilding our defence capacity, and the continued partnership has strengthened the professionalism of our forces.”
General Muganga noted that the RDF’s emergence as one of Africa’s most capable and disciplined militaries reflects the strong collaboration with Kenya.
“The regional security environment keeps evolving, and our ability to adapt depends on working together,” he said.
Outside official talks, General Kahariri honored the victims of the 1994 Genocide, laying a wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and visiting the Campaign Against Genocide Museum. He described the visits as “a powerful reminder of the armed forces’ duty to protect civilians and uphold peace.”
At the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in Nyakinama, General Kahariri addressed senior officers from Rwanda and allied countries in a lecture titled “Positioning Africa in a Multipolar World.”
He emphasized that African militaries must go beyond traditional defence roles to support peace, stability, and economic development.
“The military must help create conditions for economic advancement while remaining agile against asymmetric and hybrid threats,” he said. He also called for stronger cyber resilience, improved crisis communication, and deeper regional cooperation through frameworks like the African Standby Force.
General Kahariri’s delegation, which included Major General A. M. Burje, Director of Military Intelligence, and Brigadier R. M. Makori, Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy, reflected Kenya’s vision of African nations leading their own defence innovations and partnerships. He praised Rwanda’s Command and Staff College for developing professional leaders and promoting continental cooperation. “Our shared goal,” he said, “is a secure, stable, and prosperous Africa, built by Africans, for Africans.”
