As a country, Rwanda is committed to continue making its modest contribution toward the United Nations peacekeeping operations in conflict-ridden countries.

This assurance was given by the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Forces, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, while meeting with a delegation of 23 officials from the United Nations headquarters at his office on Tuesday.

The officials were in the country between February 8 and 10, as part of their tour to different troop and police contributing countries, during which they discussed challenges pre- and post-deployment and general wellbeing of peacekeepers in their respective missions.

"We do recognise that this comes with serious challenges; doctrinally, we try to make sure that our men and women we deploy in peacekeeping do understand what it means including sacrifice,” Gen Nyamvumba told the UN delegation.

Rwanda is ranked the fifth largest troops and police contributing country worldwide, with a total of 6,596 peacekeepers currently deployed in seven peacekeeping missions.

The delegation later visited the peacekeepers pre-deployment training centre at Rwanda Military Academy, Gako, to learn more about the training and preparations of peacekeepers.

At Gako, Rick Martin, the director of field budget and finance division at UN Headquarters, wrote in the visitors book the following: "The Investment of Government of Rwanda in this significant Training Facility is reflecting the commitment and professionalism that the UN has come to expect in Rwanda’s contribution to peacekeeping.” 

The team noted that they were impressed by the government efforts in the preparation of officers to be deployed in peacekeeping missions.

"We have been very impressed by the way you have been preparing all different officers that are going to be deployed in peacekeeping missions,” said Omar Lisandro Castaneda Solares, one of the delegates.

He commended Rwanda for the priority given during the training to many principles of peace and security (neutrality and impartiality), and on the protection of the population affected on ground, specifically women and children.

Since 2004 to-date, Rwanda has participated in 14 peacekeeping missions and contributed 44,883 military and 3,894 police personnel towards these missions around the world. editorial@newtimes.co.rw