President Paul Kagame has urged the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and Security Forces to maintain and further improve the standards of professional conduct, discipline and patriotism that they demonstrated in the previous year.

In a written New Year message to the forces, the Commander in Chief urged them to safeguard the core values that enabled them to triumph over the years.

"I urge you to uphold our most critical attribute; the "Rwandan Spirit”. I want you to preserve the core values that enabled us to succeed to this date; selflessness, discipline, honour, resilience and humility,” the President wrote.

Kagame told the forces that the New Year brings new challenges and opportunities but character would see them through.

"We will undoubtedly be confronted with more threats and hardships, but with our spirit, experience and belief, I am confident we will continue to prevail,” Kagame added.

He paid tribute to officers who paid the ultimate price in order to save the nation’s values, and ideals.

He noted that their sacrifices were not in vain and that they will be emulated by those still serving as well as future generations.

The President commended the servicemen and servicewomen for their selfless service, in continuing to deliver what he termed as "the most critical service” to all citizens.

Kagame pointed out that the forces’ service to the nation was beyond working as servicemen as they had also worked alongside their fellow countrymen in advancing socio-economic development through various initiatives in the areas of education, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental protection among others.

"Through these activities, you have distinguished yourselves as servicemen and women determined not only to protect our people but also work with them in uplifting their well being,” he said.

In the just concluded year, RDF soldiers served in peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, Darfur, Sudan, and South Sudan among other countries making Rwanda the 6th largest contributor to United Nations forces globally.

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