THE ROLE RWANDA Defence Forces (RDF) has played in securing the country and leading its people out of the doldrums is commendable and should be emulated globally, a US army general and former top diplomat has said.

Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Karl Eikenberry, was addressing journalists on Thursday at the RDF Command and Staff College in Nyakinama, Musanze District, Northern Province.

Eikenberry was lecturing the third intake comprising 47 officers from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan on the topic: "Thinking and acting strategically in national security matters”.

 "What I have seen here is beyond my imagination. It is amazing to see how the military and the country’s leadership have managed to rebuild the nation after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that brought it to near extinction,” said Eikenberry, who is also a former US Ambassador to Afghanistan.

Eikenberry has been at the college for two days on the invitation of the RDF.

He said RDF‘s committment to professionalism was one of the major reasons his  country was increasing relations with Rwanda.

  Eikenberry said the Rwandan military was doing well but needed to work harder to develop strategies that would help the country reach its goals.

Eikenberry is currently a fellow in International Security at the Centre for International Security and Cooperation and a faculty member of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Centre at Stanford University.

He is a veteran soldier  and commander and has served as a diplomat.

Participants undergoing the one-year course at the college hailed RDF for inviting the retired army general, saying that his lecture had enriched their understanding of the army.

"I think it was a great idea to invite him, basing on his experience as commander and diplomat,” said Major Peter Oyoyo from  Uganda.